Ruben Amorim
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim is preparing for the team's Europa League clash against Real Sociedad
Manchester United have added youngsters Tyler Fredricson and James Scanlon to their Europa League squad ahead of their last-16 second leg against Real Sociedad on Thursday night.
United go into their huge knockout tie at Old Trafford knowing defeat would leave them without anything to play for this season, with the tie finely poised at 1-1 on aggregate.
Ruben Amorim is without a number of players after an injury crisis in his squad that has left him without nine players for their European clash. Lisandro Martinez, Amad Diallo, Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, Altay Bayindir and Jonny Evans are all unavailable for the game so Amorim is set to turn to youth stars to fill out his bench.
In recent games, he has used teenager striker Chido Obi amid his huge list of absences. The 17-year-old has impressed coming off the bench and has benefited from the experience of being in and amongst the first team.
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But the ex-Arsenal starlet is not able to play in the Europa League because he had not been registered for the knockout stages when United submitted their squad lists earlier this year.
United are able to add young players to a 'B list' up until 11pm before a match, but those players need to have been at the club for two continuous years after their 15th birthday. Obi doesn't satisfy this requirement because he only joined in October.
Instead, Amorim has called upon 20-year-old Fredricson and 18-year-old Scanlon for the game. Neither have made a senior appearance for the Red Devils, though Fredricson was named on the bench for United's 1-0 loss to Tottenham last month.
Tyler Fredricson
Amorim has added Tyler Fredricson to his squad amid an injury crisis
James Scanlon
James Scanlon has also been included
He also previously sat on the bench in another Europa League game against Sociedad back in 2022 when he was just 17. Scanlon, meanwhile, has been training with the first team of late and was part of the squad that travelled to the US for pre-season last summer.
The duo will join other United youngsters who have been given the chance to be part of United's first team squads of late, including Harry Amass, Toby Collyer, Elyh Harrison, Jack Fletcher and Jack Moorhouse.
It's simply win or bust for United on Thursday so it will be a huge game for the duo to be part of and Amorim has confirmed a huge boost for his side with Manuel Ugarte returning from injury.
While Mason Mount is back in training, he said this clash will come too soon for him. He said: "Mason Mount is too soon," United head coach Ruben Amorim said. "Leny’s out. Harry Maguire cannot play this one but I hope to have him for Sunday. Manu is on the squad and I think there is no one returning."
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