Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal insists he will have no problem making room for his stellar cast of new arrivals.
Van Gaal is looking to finally, at the fifth time of asking, record his first win as United boss tomorrow when QPR visit.
Van Gaal is expected to hand Radamel Falcao, Daley Blind, Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo their debuts while Angel di Maria should make his first appearance at Old Trafford alongside £29million summer signing Ander Herrera.
How exactly Van Gaal plans to fit £150million-worth of talent into his first-team has been the subject of much debate.
Van Gaal, who may have to drop the likes of Juan Mata and Robin van Persie at times this year, is not fazed by the prospect of trying to fit all his stars into his team.
“I don’t have any worries about that because I have done that already – for more than 25 years,” said Van Gaal. “I’m a coach who always decides what he sees and has observed and then decides.”
Van Gaal, who said the club had done “very good” in the window, has seen his selections worries ease due to a host of injuries.
Phil Jones would be out for between three weeks and a month with a torn hamstring, said Van Gaal, who also revealed Marouane Fellaini is out for at least a month due to an ankle injury. Michael Carrick, Chris Smalling, Sam Johnstone, Ashley Young, Jesse Lingard, James Wilson and Reece James completed the injury list.
The good news for United fans is that Luke Shaw is available to make his first appearance since his £28million move from Southampton.
“Shaw is fit enough to play minutes but not the whole game. There is a difference,” Van Gaal said.
After breaking the British transfer record, United fans turned up at Turf Moor with Argentina flags to greet £59.7million Di Maria.
The arrival of Falcao has only served to heighten the excitement among the United support.
Van Gaal has warned it will take time for the Colombian and his fellow new signings to adapt to English football, though.
“What the fans expect and what I expect are different opinions,” Van Gaal said. “The fans shall expect a new start, of course, with these kind of players to fit (in) but I know as a trainer-coach, when you let 14 players go and buy six new players, you have 20 different relationships in the dressing room.
“The hierarchy has gone. Now we have to build up a new hierarchy and that always needs time. I’m sorry for that but it’s like that.”
Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward made his expectations clear this week when he said, in a conference call with investors, that the club had budgeted for a top-three finish.
Despite picking up two points from nine in the league, and suffering a humbling Capital One Cup thrashing at MK Dons, Van Gaal is optimistic he can reach that goal.
“I don’t think it’s an unreasonable target,” Van Gaal said.
“That it shall be difficult? That is another question but a club such as Manchester United has to always have a target.
“Within the top three, I think is logical perhaps because Manchester United wants to be in the Champions League.”
QPR’s Joey Barton will face a late fitness test after sustaining a hamstring strain. Rangers boss Harry Redknapp admitted he has a number of players carrying knocks.
New recruits Sandro and Nico Kranjcar are primed for their debuts.
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