Manchester United have included youngster Max Taylor in a very youthful looking travelling squad for their Europa League clash with Astana.
Taylor has joined several other players from United's Under-23s set up in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's squad , with the team having already secured their qualification to the knockout stages of the European competition.
Here, we profile the young United player:
Key information
Max Taylor (formerly Max Dunne), having changed his name in February 2019, is a 19-year-old centre-back.
He's a Mancunian-born player who joined United in 2014 and made his name from 2016 with some solid displays for the club's Under-18s.
During the 2018/19 campaign, he underwent treatment for cancer, but has recently made his return to action after successfully beating the illness after a course of chemotherapy.
United impact
Taylor made his debut for United's Under-23s in the 2016/17 season, well ahead of schedule, but featured largely for the Under-18s that season. He was stepping into the Under-23s when he required cancer treatment.
Taylor received the club's support during his rehabilitation and made his return, his first appearance since undergoing surgery, against Swansea in October this season, having returned to training at Carrington in September.
He then played again for Neil Wood's Under-23s against Sunderland last week.
Having been highly rated by the club in the past, Taylor is now focused on his work at United and pushing further for opportunities in the first team.
What Taylor has said
“I feel immensely proud and happy to be back on the training pitch with my team-mates and friends,” Taylor said upon his return to action. “Without the invaluable support of my family, team-mates and, of course, the nurses and doctors, my return to training at this stage would not have been possible.
“I want to thank all of the club’s medical and sports-science staff that I have worked with throughout my rehabilitation. The next step is to continue working hard in the gym, and out on the grass, to hopefully make my return on the pitch.”
