Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed that academy graduates Di’Shon Bernard, Ethan Laird and Dylan Levitt will all start for Manchester United against Astana in Thursday’s Europa League tie in Kazakhstan.
Just four senior players have been included in United’s squad, with the club’s spot in the knockout stages already secured.
“If our young players are going to learn to play in these European games, I think this is a great start for them,” Solskjaer said at his pre-match press conference.
“It’s the right challenge for these boys now and I think it’s going to be a good game of football.”
Solskjaer also confirmed that Lee Grant will make his second appearance for United since joining the club from Stoke in 2018.
“For a manager like me to have Lee to call upon it’s fantastic he has a world-class attitude,” Solskjaer added.
“He’s probably the fittest of the goalkeepers, he always does extra. He’s a 36-year-old going on 26. I’ve got the perfect goalkeeping department.”
Nineteen-year-old Max Taylor is also set to make his debut after recovering from testicular cancer.
Manchester United squad
Lee Grant, Matej Kovar, Max Taylor, Luke Shaw, Axel Tuanzebe, Dylan Levitt, Teden Mengi, DiShon Bernard, Largie Ramazani, Ethan Laird, Ethan Galbraith, Arnau Puigmal, D'Mani Bughail-Mellor, James Garner, Jesse Lingard, Tahith Chong, Angel Gomes, Mason Greenwood.
