Manchester United are in Kazakhstan ahead of their final Europa League away game of the group stages and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faced the media this afternoon to speak to the media about the fixture.
Solskjaer has taken 14 teenagers to Nur-Sultan for Thursday’s game and we’re going to see several young players make their debuts for the first-team.
The Red Devils have already booked their place in the knockout phase so this is a golden opportunity to give the youth a chance to impress in European competition.
And Solskjaer will want to go a step further by topping United’s group in the Europa League.
READ MORE: FC Astana v Manchester United: Match preview and prediction
The boss was asked about potential debutants at the press conference.
“It’s Lee [Grant], you’ll be [Ethan] Laird, [Di’Shon] Bernard and [Dylan] Levitt from the start so you’ll definitely get a few,” Solskjaer said (via Manchester Evening News).
Grant, who was signed as a backup goalkeeper by former manager José Mourinho, spoke about making his debut for the club, saying, “The game has huge significance for myself. It’s a very proud moment – the same can be said for the rest of the debutants. It’s a really proud moment and one I’m really looking forward to. I had a taste of it in the EFL and had to wait a while since.
“Really excited by the prospect – can’t wait to get out there.”
We have written a lot about Levitt over the past year, so it’s really exciting to hear he will in the starting line-up tomorrow.
The young lads will have nerves ahead of the game — no matter what they say beforehand — which is only natural.
At least we know our place is booked for the knockout stages and they can play with some freedom against Astana.
Every single one of them will be determined to come away with a win and prove their worth to Solskjaer.
Go on, lads!
