United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has used the Europa League as an opportunity to blood young players, with Mason Greenwood, Angel Gomes, Tahith Chong and Brandon Williams all starting games in the competition so far this season.
Laird was seen with the first-team at training on Wednesday morning and his name was later confirmed on the list of players going to Belgrade. There are no guarantees he will be included in the final matchday 18, but ev
Born in 2001, Laird signed his first professional contract with United last October and has been promoted from the Under-18 ranks to the club’s Under-23 team this season, making the step up to the higher age group alongside the aforementioned Williams.
Refreshing, preparing and fine-tuning #MUFC #UEL pic.twitter.com/05DeAizOVy
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 23, 2019
Rather like Williams, the youngster is local to Manchester, while he is described in his official club profile as having ‘plenty of pace’, as well as possessing ‘defensive qualities’.
There is, however, no David de Gea, who rushed back from a groin injury in order to play against Liverpool. Instead, young Czech stopper Matej Kovar joined Sergio Romero and Lee Grant in training as the goalkeepers were put through their paces and has travelled.
Sergio Romero
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 23, 2019
gbeng Lee Grant
Matej Kovar#MUFC #UEL pic.twitter.com/SX6GmQ4GKW
It appears that De Gea, who did play against AZ Alkmaar last time out, is being rested.
Jesse Lingard and Greenwood are back in the squad, but Paul Pogba, Luke Shaw, Diogo Dalot and Axel Tuanzebe miss out. Ashley Young is also absent, despite no reports of an injury, while Serbian international Nemanja Matic also misses the chance to play in his home country.
Man Utd Travelling Squad for Europa League vs FK Partizan:
| Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero, Lee Grant, Matej Kovar |
| Defenders: Phil Jones, Ethan Laird, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Marcos Rojo, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Brandon Williams |
| Midfielders: Fred, James Garner, Jesse Lingard, Scott McTominay, Juan Mata, Andreas Pereira |
| Forwards: Mason Greenwood, Daniel James, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford |
United’s only previous meetings with Partizan were way back in 1965/66 in the semi-finals of that season’s European Cup. Partizan won the two-legged tie 2-1 on aggregate to reach the final, losing to Real Madrid. United eventually won their first European Cup two years later.
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Source : 90min