Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed Brandon Williams' form for the reserves at the beginning of the season is the reason the youngster is making his full senior debut against AZ Alkmaar.
Williams was named in a youthful-looking starting XI for United's second Europa League group-phase game in The Hague on Thursday night, with Angel Gomes and Mason Greenwood also getting the nod.
Explaining his decision to select Williams, Solskjaer said to MUTV: "We have a few young lads playing tonight who are used to playing on astroturf. It’s well deserved for Brandon. He’s been fantastic all season in the reserves and, when he’s come up playing with the first team, he’s not looked out of place for one day. It’s only what he deserves."
Solskjaer sprung another surprise in selecting David de Gea over Sergio Romero, United's usual cup goalkeeper, and the Norwegian revealed his reasons for doing so.
“David really wants to play," United's manager said. "Sergio would like to play as well but we’ve got two good goalkeepers. It’s Monday, Thursday, Sunday and we’ve had three games in our heads. It’s not just the astroturf we’re thinking about but these three games."
On handing Mason Greenwood his third start in as many weeks after the 18-year-old scored on his previous two, against Astana and Rochdale, Solskjaer said: "He likes midweek games for us. Of course, we know he’s going to be in and around the box and will hopefully get us a goal. He’s a goalscorer."
