Erik ten Hag admits Manchester United are not ready for their Premier League opener against Fulham on Friday night.

Ten Hag confirmed this week’s new signings Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui will go straight into his squad for Fulham’s visit to Old Trafford.

But Joshua Zirkzee and teenage defender Leny Yoro will both miss United’s Premier League opener, with Ten Hag also managing the fitness of a number of players who have reported for training at different stages of the summer due to international commitments.

“It’s true it’s not the pre-season where you can in five, six weeks work on the team,” Ten Hag said. “It’s very complicated.

“We had the USA tour squad, then we add the players who did the Euros and Copa America, and now new signings and now we have to make a team from it.

“That team is not ready, but the league starts – and there are more managers to deal with this problem.We definitely have this problem but, still, we have some rules, some principles and we have to make a start.”

Ten Hag worked with both De Ligt and Mazraoui at Ajax and confirmed they would be involved against Fulham as United start the campaign with some absentees.