Martial shines, Varane’s place at risk

PERTH, Australia — Manchester United’s players and staff landed back at Manchester Airport on Sunday after nearly three weeks away in Thailand and Australia to begin the final run-up to the start of the Premier League season.

Erik ten Hag has two weeks to make any final decisions before picking his team to play Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford on Aug. 7. That fortnight includes two more friendlies, against Atletico Madrid and Rayo Vallecano, but the bulk of the work has already been done in Bangkok, Melbourne and Perth.

The Dutchman has run the rule over more than 30 players, while new signings Lisandro Martinez and Christian Eriksen are set to join the group this week. The tour has been positive for some members of the squad, but others will arrive back in Manchester with doubts about their roles ahead of the new campaign.

Here’s a look at the winners and losers from the trip and what Ten Hag’s new-look team might look like.

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WINNERS

Martial began this summer unsure of his own future but after three weeks in Thailand and Australia, the Frenchman has made a strong case to start against Brighton in two weeks’ time. He benefitted from Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence and started all four games as the central striker in Ten Hag’s system, scoring three goals against Liverpool, Melbourne Victory and Crystal Palace. The coaching staff have also been impressed with the way he’s taken on information, such as when to press and the direction of his runs. Martial has made such an impact that Ten Hag has now ruled out letting him leave before the deadline, regardless of what happens with Ronaldo.