CDM – Daley Blind
Has impressed quietly since a £13.8m summer switch from Ajax and with such a makeshift defence behind him the Netherlands international could be kept busy.
CM – Marouane Fellaini
Despite being widely considered a flop last season the Belgian has reinvented himself under van Gaal and is now an established figure in the first team.
CM – Angel di Maria
May have cost a British record £59.7m over the summer, but the displays of the Argentina international seem to show he is worth it and di Maria will be looking to pull all the creative strings.
CAM – Adnan Januzaj
With Juan Mata struggling for form we expect van Gaal to give this youngster another chance in the No.10 role, which despite having previously been a winger seems to be the future position of the teenager.