Brandon Williams and James Garner could make their first domestic starts for Man Utd in the Carabao Cup fourth round tie with Chelsea on Wednesday.
After all, Williams made his debut in the previous round as a substitute against Rochdale and has since started Manchester United’s last two Europa League group games at AZ Alkmaar and Partizan Belgrade.
That will stand to the 19-year-old as valuable experience, away from home in Europe, whereas Garner made his full debut against Partizan and came on against Norwich on Sunday.
“I would think so,” Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said when asked about the likelihood of Williams and Garner playing at Stamford Bridge, as reported in the Manchester Evening News. “Jimmy played 10-15 minutes tonight and was excellent, calmed us down and made some good decisions when we wanted to see the game out.
“We have not made a decision on who is going to play, but you will probably see the two of them.”
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Mason Greenwood, 18, will be hoping to see a run in the team on Wednesday night. He played at Carrow Road and had a chance to denied by Tim Krul at the very end.
While he failed to make the bench, Tahith Chong was included in the travelling squad and he too will be in contention to face Chelsea.
Solskjaer has had to call upon the youngsters most weeks this season due to injures. He is pleased with how they have coped.
“Character will be revealed in tough times, but I think they have done excellent, the young kids. I can’t give them any more responsibility and I couldn’t be more happy with many of the youngsters.
“We know it’s been tough, and we know that we have asked a lot of them because Paul [Pogba], Luke Shaw, Anthony Martial, loads of other players that have been injured, and for us the youngsters have stepped up in a difficult period.
“But in the end they will be stronger for it.”
United thrashed Chelsea 4-0 in the opening game of the season, though form since then has been the complete opposite.
Frank Lampard is earning some deserved praise for how his young Chelsea side is playing and getting results.
The Blues will go into the game as favourites.
Moreover, Solskjaer doesn’t really have much choice but to play some youths in this game.
The first team squad is light and to be fair to the youngsters, they deserve the opportunity going on recent performances.
