Chris Smalling
Smalling was playing non-League football as recently as 2008, but he is now United’s best natural centre-back. Phil Jones, who is currently out with an illness, is unlikely to get in the team when he returns to full fitness.
Daley Blind
Although best known as a midfielder, Blind has been excellent in central defence this season.
Blind’s performances have been so impressive that he has risen ahead of Jones, Marcos Rojo and Patrick McNair in the pecking order.
Michael Carrick
Carrick and new signing Schweinsteiger are both fairly similar, in that they are both experienced deep-lying midfielders who can be relied upon to break up play and recycle possession efficiently.
There is probably only room for one of them in Van Gaal’s first XI and, as Carrick is slightly fitter these days, the Englishmen edges out his German counterpart.
Morgan Schneiderlin
United beat off competition from Arsenal to sign the France international from Southampton. He was Van Gaal’s no.1 target, so, naturally, he starts.
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