Manchester United haven’t played a game since their last competitive match in the English Premier League 2018/19 season, where they lost 2-0 to relegated Cardiff City.
Perth Glory similarly capped off their season in defeat, going down to A-League Champions Sydney FC in a penalty shootout.
Both clubs are looking to start the season fresh and what better way to do so than a pre-season friendly. The Red Devil’s head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has less than a month before the Premier League season starts, which is why he’s brought a full strength team out to Australia, so he can focus on how he wants them to play moving forward.
Perth Glory are without their left-back Jason Davidson as he’s moved onto the K-League. Mainstays Diego Castro, Andy Keogh, Alex Grant, Chris Ikonomidis and newcomer Dane Ingham also won’t be available for this game, head coach Tony Popovic will have some reshuffling to do given he won’t have the same team which took out the Premier’s Plate from last season.
The headline act for the Glory will be the debut of former Melbourne City star Bruno Fornaroli. The complexities around how he will fit into this very attacking team are yet to be solved. He will be keen to get back out on the pitch given his lack of game-time at City.
For Manchester United, there should be debuts for the 21-year-old duo of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James, from Crystal Palace and Swansea City respectively. Despite Paul Pogba not having signed a new contract elsewhere, he too should start for the Red Devils.
It will be on the front and back pages around the world if Manchester United don’t win this.
Manchester United v Perth Glory: 7pm local, 9pm AEST.
