RUBEN AMORIM has been forced to name a depleted 18-man squad for Manchester United’s Europa League crunch clash against Real Sociedad.
A tiny travelling cohort – made of THREE goalkeepers – will make the trip to Spain to face Sociedad in the first-leg of their last-16 tie on Thursday.
AlamyMan Utd have been forced to name a depleted 18-man squad for Manchester United’s Europa League crunch clash[/caption]
AlamyRuben Amorim held his last training session in Manchester before Thursday’s Europa League tie[/caption]
According to Uefa, teams can name up to 25 players to a matchday squad for Europa League games.
But United’s injury crisis has forced just 18 players to make the trip to Sociedad.
With three keepers included: Andre Onana, Dermot Mee and Elyh Harrison, Amorim can only call on 15 outfield stars.
It means a first European squad call up for Mee, 22, who was included on the bench in the Prem for the first time against Everton last month.
Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte are the latest stars to have been ruled out Thursday night’s clash.
The club has described them as both having picked up “minor knocks” in their FA Cup penalty shootout defeat against Fulham on Sunday.
Eyebrows were raised when Maguire – who normally takes a penalty in shootouts – was replaced by winter signing Ayden Heaven at the end of normal time against the Cottagers at Old Trafford.
Likewise, Ugarte was subbed off for Alejandro Garnacho in the 53rd minute, but that was likely a tactical decision.
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With nine first-team regulars already unavailable, the Red Devils are now without as many as 12 players against Sociedad.
Amorim can’t call on 17-year-old striker Chido Obi, who has came off the bench on multiple occasions in recent weeks.
United’s travelling squad vs Sociedad
Goalkeepers: Andre Onana Dermot Mee, Elyh Harrison
Defenders: Harry Amass, Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt, Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu, Ayden Heaven, Victor Lindelof, Noussair Mazraoui, Leny Yoro
Midfielders: Casemiro, Toby Collyer, Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes
Forwards: Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee
AFPHarry Maguire missed training after picking up a minor knock against Fulham[/caption]
RexManuel Ugarte also missed training on Wednesday[/caption]
Obi was not registered when the club submitted the squad because he was not considered part of the first-team.
The talented teenager has not been with the club long enough to be eligible for the B-list, having arrived from Arsenal in the summer.
Fellow January signings Heaven and wing-back Patrick Dorgu were submitted in time, though.
Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton, Jonny Evans, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount and Amad Diallo are all out injured.
For Sociedad, they too will be without some key players when they welcome the Reds on Thursday.
Alvaro Odriozola, Arsen Zakharyan, Jon Pacheco and Luka Sucic all missed their 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in La Liga on Sunday.
AlamyAmorim can’t call on 17-year-old striker Chido Obi[/caption]
The news that Maguire and Ugarte are unavailable has fans fearing the worst.
One said: “Casemiro against Sociedad and we’re cooked.”
One fumed: “No Maguire and Ugarte on Thursday. That will be another loss sadly.”
Another raged: “Seriously! This is getting ridiculous.”
A fourth added: “That does mean Heaven or Victor Lindelof will start at the back? ”
There was also some positive news for Amorim however.
Young midfielder Toby Collyer is back, though, and flies to Spain with the rest of the party.
Collyer has been absent since January, when United last played in the Europa League as they progressed past FCSB.
The Europa League is United’s final chance for silverware this season.
Despite their worst-ever run in the Prem, the Red Devils were the only side across the Champions League and Europa League to go unbeaten in the league phase.
With Amorim’s side 14th in the Prem, the club will need to win it in order to qualify for next season’s competition.
Man Utd ratings vs Fulham
MANCHESTER UNITED crashed out the FA Cup on penalties against Fulham.
Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee had poor spot-kicks saved as the Red Devils slipped to their sixth home defeat under Ruben Amorim.
Fulham broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time with a well-worked corner.
Antonee Robinson darted to the near post and flicked it onto Calvin Bassey who directed his header into the bottom corner brilliantly.
Just as United’s frustrations were brewing, Bruno Fernandes was the saviour yet again.
He picked up Diogo Dalot’s perfect cut back and fired it beyond the stretch of Bernd Leno.
United had chances towards the end of the second-half, with subs Alejandro Garnacho and Chido Obi unable to finish.
There was nothing to separate the sides in extra-time and penalties were needed.
Despite well-taken kicks from Fernandes, Diogo Dalot and Casemiro, Lindelof and Zirkzee woefully fired directly at Fulham hero Leno.
But which Man Utd players could hold their heads up and which flopped?
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