Manchester United are set to face Ipswich Town at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday.
The Red Devils will hope to return to winning ways after suffering a shock 2-0 defeat to Hull City in the opening game of the 2026-27 season.
Head coach Michael Carrick will demand a reaction from his players and expect them to finally show their true quality.
The United manager may also need to shuffle his pack to restore greater balance to his starting XI.
We believe Diogo Dalot deserves the nod at right-back this Sunday.
Dalot must return to the starting XI
Dalot featured regularly under Carrick during the second half of last season and looked increasingly comfortable in the system.
The Portugal international has played in several positions (left-back, left wing-back and right wing-back) but looks most comfortable in his favoured right-back role.
His ability to surge forward on overlapping runs could create the perfect platform for Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo to drift inside and attack defenders.
He also possesses the ability to move into central areas and allow Tielemans to take positions higher up the field. Dalot executed this role superbly under former manager Erik ten Hag.
The 27-year-old remains highly trusted by Carrick, making the decision to start Noussair Mazraoui against Hull particularly surprising.
Mazraoui was solid defensively but offered little threat in the final third, with his crossing proving especially frustrating.
The 28-year-old has struggled to truly establish himself under Carrick, with a series of minor injuries repeatedly disrupting his momentum.
Since Carrick took charge, Mazraoui has started just five matches at right-back.
The Red Devils won only one of those five contests (vs Brighton & Hove Albion in the final game of the last campaign).
The first two games were lost to Newcastle United and Leeds United, followed by a draw against Sunderland in May.
Those results raise questions about whether Mazraoui has fully adapted to what Carrick demands from his right-back.
There is also a strong argument that Carrick simply has not yet managed to unlock the best version of the former Bayern Munich star.
Either way, handing Dalot his place back in the starting XI would be a sensible call, with Mazraoui still available to provide an option from the bench if needed.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
