Louis van Gaal has begun thinking about his starting line-up for Manchester United's first match of the new Premier League season.

The Red Devils host Tottenham at Old Trafford on August 8 in the first fixture of the 2015/16 campaign and already the Dutchman has decided on a few of his starters.

The pre-season tour of the USA, which culminated in a 2-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in Chicago on Wednesday, gave van Gaal a good chance to work out his potential eleven with three of his defenders already pencilling themselves for the visit of Spurs in just over a weeks' time.

"I have to start with the formation and when the formation is doing well, I let them pay in that formation," van Gaal told reporters.

"I think I shall play [Luke] Shaw with [Matteo] Darmian, and with Daley Blind. The right central position I have to consider. I am very pleased with the performance of Matteo Darmian, and you can see he can play on the right and left.

"Also, a benefit of this year's tour is that we don't have any injuries. Last year I was forced to use, for example, Tyler Blackett and Jesse Lingard in the first Premier League match.

"Now, I have a wider selection and I can use everybody who I think I have to use. There is more competition now and there is more balance in the selection. I have a lot of confidence to start the competition."