Welcome to the opening day of the 2014/15 Premier League! It has been 34 long days since Mario Goetze's strike won the World Cup for Germany - and close season be damned - we are ready for more competitive football!

This probably counts as the first real chance, with returning hero Sigurdsson stinging the palms of De Gea with a fierce low drive.

Now Ashley Young is another attacking player who is, today, a wingback. But - for all his weaknesses - he does know how to defend, and covers brilliantly after Jones is caught out.

United lay camp deep in the Swansea half with Lingard seeing a lot of the ball. He has a decent first touch but his crossing has been a bit iffy - again, not usually his role.

Swansea really are struggling to use the ball - Williams plays it straight to a red shirt, United swarm forward but Lingard's cross is straight at Fabianski. Williams is usually so composed but he's looked flustered so far.

Lingard was exposed there - as you'd expect from a man who has never really had to defend before. Could be an interesting experiment.

I say that and then a long ball from Shelvey catches Lingard cold and Routledge could be in - but his touch is heavy and De Gea gathers.

Ander has an eye for a pass - and he lofted one in for Hernandez to race on to as Rooney created some space. Have to say - Swansea have offered little thus far.

This is how United are lining up - it's fair to say the wingbacks are a lot more advanced than is traditional.

'Welcome to England' - that's what Jonjo Shelvey was saying with his body as he left Ander Herrera in a heap. Don't think Ander will mind too much, the hardy Basque he is.

Lingard's first act is to let rip at the assistant referee after a goal-kick is awarded. Like an old hand at Old Trafford. It did seem that he should have won a corner...

AND THEY'RE OFF! IT'S BACK! Excited?

MISSING FOR UNITED: Shaw, Carrick, Cleverley, Valencia, Van Persie. That's quite the list! /// MISSING FOR SWANSEA: Britton, Emnes.

Yes, that is actually what Van Gaal said in his pre-match. Jose has some competition in the charisma stakes...

Louis van Gaal is the epitome of the Die Hard baddie: "Do what we have agreed - then we shall win."

Back to Lingard, he has been highly-rated for a few years and impressed last season on loan at both Birmingham and Brighton in the Championship. He scored four goals for Brighton in 16 matches, and six in 13 for Birmingham. He normally plays behind the striker.

Swansea manager Garry Monk shows he is already an expert in the art of saying nothing: "I'm just looking forward to the game. I focus on the players, not myself. During the week we make sure everything is in place."

What do you think the decision to start Hernandez over Kagawa means? There have been reports that the Mexican will be sold, and it certainly looked like he wasn't in Van Gaal's plans. United could have gone with Rooney up top and Kagawa/Mata forming a creative axis behind....

Unsure as to whether Lingard will play on the right or the left as Ashley Young, his fellow 'wingback' (I punctuate because neither are wingbacks by trade) has played on both flanks in pre-season.

If you want to target me with your opinions, predictions or vile personal abuse, I suppose you can also find me on social media - @Reda_Maher_LDN.

Of course we are on Twitter, so if you would like to monitor the news as it breaks - or respond to any of our outrageous claims or opinions - you can find us on @EurosportCom_EN

SWANSEA CITY: Fabianski, Rangel, Amat, Williams, Taylor, Ki, Shelvey, Dyer, Sigurdsson, Routledge, Bony... Subs: Tremmel, Bartley, Richards, Tiendalli, Montero, Sheehan, Gomis.