01/09/2017 11:00, Report by Adam Marshall

Much has been made of the size of Manchester United's squad following the summer capture of three tall recruits in Victor Lindelof, Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic. 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, at 6ft 5ins another giant, signed a new deal to continue spreading panic among Premier League defences and let's not forget the likes of David De Gea, Sergio Romero, Marouane Fellaini, Paul Pogba, Eric Bailly, Marcos Rojo and Chris Smalling.

It means United can be imposing across the pitch and should continue to be a threat from set-pieces. Fans are also hoping the powerful approach will reap dividends over the tricky winter months when the fixture list is especially unforgiving - there will be at least eight games in December alone.

We asked the man we reckon to probably be the tallest in the club's history, Edwin van der Sar, to provide his opinion as he prepares for the Legends match against Barcelona at Old Trafford on Saturday.

"United needed a new striker, defensively had to beef up a little bit and the signing of Nemanja Matic is probably a good one for the club," the Dutchman told ManUtd.com. "I think it's always been the case to have big players in the Premier League.

"You play so many matches and so many tough away games. In my time, there was Stoke City and West Ham United, that are never easy games, and you need a little presence in your team. 

"In Holland, and at Ajax, we look at different qualities in players. Many come from the Academy so they are also a little bit younger. I think the average age of the Manchester United team is much higher than at Ajax. That's our philosophy and United have theirs and they want to create a legacy again with Jose Mourinho as manager."

Mourinho has always liked having a strong spine to his successful teams and there appears no doubt that, when the going gets tough, United will be well equipped to deal with any physical challenges provided at home and abroad in 2017/18.

"It’s a very strong, physical side and the new signings from the summer are big lads which is great for the Premier League," commented former United star Sammy McIlroy. "Come the winter months, these lads will be strong, and it’s good for both boxes too, scoring goals and keeping them out at the other end.

"When you're in that tunnel beforehand and you look over to your side and you see Manchester United today, we're very, very physical. It's as big a team as I can remember for United. I've just been looking back at Sir Alex's teams as well and he had Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, Eric Cantona, Teddy Sheringham etc. They were all big lads but I think the side at the minute are that little bit bigger, stronger and more physical."

McIlroy played in the 1970s and 1980s when Division One football was notoriously tough, but the Northern Irishman is in no doubt the current team would have been able to hold their own in that era.

"They're big, fit and physical and the pitches are a bit different now to how they were back then, so these lads would have been capable of playing through that with their fitness," he concluded.