Manchester United could be forced to bolster their first-team squad with a number of youth players if their match against Brighton is to go ahead this weekend.
The trip to Brentford was postponed earlier in the week due to a Covid-19 outbreak at the club, casting further doubt on their scheduled home match on Saturday lunchtime.
Ralf Rangnick's side are due to welcome Brighton to Old Trafford in less than 48 hours' time, but club sources don't expect the Covid situation to have improved significantly by then.
United reopened their Carrington training complex on Wednesday morning, though only 17 first team players were pictured arriving at the training ground by MEN photographers.
On arrival, they had to undertake lateral flow and PCR tests in their car before being given the green light to enter the training ground if those tests were negative — or return home if they were positive.
United and Brighton would need Premier League approval to postpone the match. However, league officials could insist the match goes ahead as long as both sides have 14 or more first team players available for selection.
In such a situation, Rangnick could either be forced to name a reduced bench for the Old Trafford encounter, or he could bolster his options by promoting a number of youth players to the first team for the match.
The Premier League handbook states that U23s players can also be included among the 14 senior players if they have "reasonable first team experience." United certainly have a number of youngsters who could feature at senior level this weekend, although MEN Sport understands some U23s players also tested positive for Covid earlier in the week.
In terms of those who could feature, Rangnick has already given Premier League playing time to Anthony Elanga during his time at the club, while seven players were added to the Uefa B-List ahead of the dead-rubber match against BSC Young Boys last week.
In that match, Zidane Iqbal and Charlie Savage both made their senior debuts from the bench, while Shola Shoretire and Teden Mengi were also introduced. Matej Kovar and Bjorn Hardley were both unused substitutes and haven't yet played for the first team.
The matter is further complicated by the fact that United U23s are scheduled to face Chelsea in the Premier League 2 at Leigh Sports Village on Friday night.
Neil Wood's side are due to kick-off at 7pm, meaning any players involved in the match would have just under 16 hours from full-time until the first-team match is due to start at Old Trafford the following day. Wood may have to promote stars from the Under-18s to fill his squad if U23s are indeed called up by Rangnick.
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