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Manchester United vs Southampton: Paul Pogba debut highlights preview and projected lineups

By Thomas Atzenhoffer

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 08: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Paul Pogba of Manchester United poses after signing for the club at Aon Training Complex on August 8, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 08: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Paul Pogba of Manchester United poses after signing for the club at Aon Training Complex on August 8, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images) /
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Manchester United look to keep their title campaign on task with their 2016-17 Old Trafford debut against Southampton on Friday night.

Manchester United Update

The real question on the night is if Paul Pogba will make his Manchester United debut. Most certainly he will, but likely in the second half off the bench.

Despite being available for selection both Pogba and Chris Smalling are expected to make the substitute bench but not be in the first eleven.

Having once again broken their transfer record, United will want their returning midfielder to have his moment in front of the crowd at the Theatre of Dreams.

Will he have the time to make a major impact on the match? That is not yet clear but seeing him on the pitch could see Jose Mourinho show the first glimpses of what his favored formation will be this season around the Frenchman.

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – AUGUST 14: Juan Mata of Manchester Untied celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 0- 1 during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Manchester United at Vitality Stadium on August 14, 2016 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – AUGUST 14: Juan Mata of Manchester Untied celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 0- 1 during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Manchester United at Vitality Stadium on August 14, 2016 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images) /

Juan Mata was a surprise first team starter for Mourinho over the past weekend at Bournemouth, but the Spaniard proved he is still useful and he is likely to play a role in many of the lower half battles this season.

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However, Henrikh Mkhitaryan is most likely to get his full debut at the expense of Mata despite is strong performance.

Michael Carrick could see his place taken by Ander Herrera who came on and had a strong substitute performance last week. If Carrick retains his place he is likely the one that will make way for Pogba’s debut.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Jose Fonte of Southampton celebrates as he scores their third goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and Arsenal at St Mary's Stadium on December 26, 2015 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 26: Jose Fonte of Southampton celebrates as he scores their third goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and Arsenal at St Mary’s Stadium on December 26, 2015 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images) /

Southampton Update

Southampton ended their opening match against Watford with a draw as the saints show definite signs of adjustment to a new manager and the loss of key players Saido Mane and Victor Wanyama.

The two departed players to Liverpool and Tottenham were much of the heartbeat of the club last season under Ronald Koeman and new manager Claude Puel has his work cut out for him.

But Puel knows how to take a club and put it back together. His first season with Nice in 2012-13 he led them to a fourth place finish in France but saw his club sink to 17th in 2013-14.

Faith was maintained in him though and he improved to 11th in 2014-15 and finished last season back in fourth place as he finished off his four-year deal.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 07: Claude Puel, manager of Southampton looks on during the pre-season friendly between Southampton and Athletic Club Bilbao at St Mary’s Stadium on August 7, 2016 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 07: Claude Puel, manager of Southampton looks on during the pre-season friendly between Southampton and Athletic Club Bilbao at St Mary’s Stadium on August 7, 2016 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images) /

Puel will have an uphill battle against Manchester United and his defense already has a few chinks in the armor as Ryan Bertrand is not ready to return from a knee injury and captain and central defender Jose Fonte is still day-to-day and a game time decision.

Koeman’s Saints won in their last two visits to Old Trafford and Puel will be wanting to feed his sides confidence off of those previous results.

Projected Lineups

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Valencia, Bailly, Blind, Shaw; Carrick, Fellaini; Mkhitaryan, Rooney, Martial; Ibrahimovic.

Southampton (4-3-1-2): Forster; Soares, Fonte, Van Dijk, Targett; Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Davis; Tadic; Redmond, Long.

Related Story: Highlights from Jose Mourinho's prematch press

Betting Odds from SkyBet

Manchester United 1/2 | Draw 16/5 | Southampton 13/2

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