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Manchester United vs Tottenham team news: Sergio Romero starts in goal with Daley Blind at centre-back as Vn Gaal names four debutants

Louis van Gaal opts to go with Argentinian over Sam Johnstone

Tom Sheen
Saturday 08 August 2015 12:14 BST
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Louis van Gaal will give Sergio Romero his first Manchester United appearance in goal.

The Dutch coach confirmed on Friday that No 1 David De Gea would not start the match against Tottenham as he is distracted over continued speculation linking him to Real Madrid.

Romero, who played for Argentina in the Copa America and World Cup finals, has not played at all in pre-season. That led there to be speculation that Van Gaal would pick the youngster Sam Johnstone, who played twice in the pre-season tour of the US, or Anders Lindegaard, who has not played since Van Gaal arrived at the club.

The 28-year-old Romero spent last season at Sampdoria and Manchester United will see three other debutants along with the goalkeeper.

Matteo Darmian will start at right-back, Morgan Schneiderlin next to Michael Carrick in midfield and Memphis Depay as a forward. World Cup winner Bastian Schweinsteiger has been named as a substitute as he has a slight injury. Daley Blind will play at centre-back.

For Tottenham, goalkeeper and club captain Hugo Lloris is not fit enough to start but has been named as a substitute.

Bastian Schweinsteiger will start as a substitute

New signing Toby Alderweireld will play next to Belgium team-mate Jan Vertonghen in defence, while Eric Dier has surprisingly been named in midfield.

New signings Kieran Trippier and Kevin Wimmer are on the bench, as is talented teenager Delle Alli, who could make his Premier League debut.

LINE-UPS:

Manchester United: Romero, Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Shaw, Carrick, Schneiderlin, Depay, Mata, Young, Rooney

Subs: Johnstone, Valencia, McNair, Schweinsteiger, Herrera, Pereira, Chicharito

Tottenham Hotspur: Vorm, Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies, Bentaleb Dier, Chadli, Eriksen, Dembele, Kane

Subs: Lloris, Trippier, Wimmier, Alli, Carroll, Lamela, Mason

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