Man United Res 1, Everton Res 0

Five of the Reds' starting line-up tasted regular competitive action on loan last season, and will aim to demonstrate their improvement to Brian McClair and Jim Ryan.

The caretaker duo will continue to helm the second string this term until further notice, and have a far larger pool of players to use this season.

That strength in depth is immediately apparent through the inclusion of Gerard Pique, Fraizer Campbell, Darron Gibson, Lee Martin and Adam Eckersley.

Pique and Eckersley line up alongside Kieran Lee and James Chester in defence, ahead of regular goalkeeper Tom Heaton.

Gibson and Martin form the midfield alongside Michael Barnes and Sam Hewson, while Campbell partners Dong Fangzhuo upfront.

Sean Evans and Michael Lea - two of last season's Reserve Team Player of the Season nominees - are on the bench, alongside Richard Eckersley, Febian Brandy and Ron-Robert Zieler.

United: Heaton; Lee, Chester, Pique, A Eckersley; Barnes, Gibson, Hewson, Martin; Dong, Campbell.

Substitutes: S Evans, Zieler, Lea, R Eckersley, Brandy.

Everton Reserves: Ruddy; Densmore, Dennehy, Boyle, Irving; Vidarsson, Morrison, Harpur, Kissock, Jutkiewicz, Agard.

Substitutes: Jones, Spencer, Sinnott, Barnett,Krenn,Downes.