Manchester United could change their priority area vs Real Betis

Man United take on Real Betis in their second pre-season tour friendly and here are five things to look out for.

Manchester United head down from Los Angeles to San Diego for their second friendly of their tour and fourth overall this pre-season.

United have lost two of their three games and take on Real Betis in southern California 12 months on from their academy XI's 3-1 defeat to Wrexham at the same stadium. After injuries to Rasmus Hojlund and Leny Yoro at the SoFi Stadium, there have been suggestions United could field a weaker team against Betis, with their final tour friendly against Liverpool in South Carolina on Saturday.

Here are five things to look out for at the Snapdragon Stadium.

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Who's Maguire's partner?

United deemed Victor Lindelof's return to training as newsworthy this week. If Lindelof was not out of contract next year and not for sale it is unlikely his participation would have warranted a standalone story.

With Yoro nursing an injury, United manager Erik ten Hag has only three first team centre backs to choose from in Lindelof, Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans. Maguire has to be first in line after a fine 2023-24 season and Evans, even at 36, is his logical partner for the time being.

Midfield change-up?

United's first game of the new season is next week in the Community Shield and the only change to their midfield has been the end of Sofyan Amrabat's loan. Inexplicably, Amrabat is still listed among the first team players on the United website even though he is a Fiorentina player.

To enter a new season with Casemiro as the only defensive midfielder would be negligent when the midfield was widely regarded as a priority area to strengthen. There is some sense in giving Toby Collyer more exposure. Christian Eriksen expects to see out his United contract but his role is likely to be that of a game-changer off the bench while Scott McTominay could still be sold.

Can Mount maintain momentum?

Mason Mount was United's best player against Arsenal and, to the surprise of nobody, he is more comfortable in an advanced role rather than the deeper position Ten Hag had intended for him to occupy.

Both berths belong to Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo when they reunite with their teammates but Mount could make a compelling case to stay behind the striker if he maintains his bright pre-season form.

Against Real Madrid in Houston last year, Ten Hag accommodated Mainoo, Mount and Fernandes in the same starting XI, with the former Chelsea playmaker as the No.10.

More minutes?

It was in United's fourth friendly against Madrid last summer that Ten Hag increased starters' playing time from 45 minutes to upwards of an hour. That would be prudent with the Community Shield 10 days away.

Or are United weaker?

There have been some suggestions the United team could be similar to the academy XI that lined up against Wrexham last year. Ten Hag still has plenty of senior players to call upon, despite the absence of the latter-stage European Championship and Copa America participants, as well as the injured Yoro and Hojlund.