It appears that Manchester United has opted not to include Harry Amass, Jack Fletcher, or Ethan Wheatley in their squad for Thursday night’s Europa League clash with PAOK at Old Trafford. The trio was notably absent from the club’s open training session at Carrington on Wednesday morning, sparking rumors about their involvement. United later confirmed that the players would instead be participating in the UEFA Youth League, specifically in the Under-19 team’s match against FK Zalgiris.
This Youth League game is the second leg of United’s tie against the Lithuanian side. In the first leg last month, the Under-19s secured a convincing 5-2 victory. As they prepare for the return leg at Leigh Sports Village, Amass and Wheatley have been officially added to the lineup, underscoring the club’s commitment to developing young players through European competition while the senior squad focuses on their Europa League campaign.
Amass and Wheatley have been involved with the senior squad recently. In the last Europa League match against Fenerbahce, both were named as substitutes, and along with Fletcher, have regularly been part of the bench for the last few games. Additionally, during recent Premier League matches against Chelsea and Leicester City, young Jayce Fitzgerald joined them on the bench, highlighting the club’s ongoing focus on nurturing future talent.
Despite this increasing involvement, Amass, Fletcher, and Wheatley were not part of the 25-man squad that took part in Wednesday’s open session at Carrington. Only two youth players—Daniel Armer and Jack Kingdon—participated in the session, suggesting that Amass, Fletcher, and Wheatley will be concentrating on the Youth League fixture rather than the Europa League match.
For the Youth League game tonight, Amass is expected to start at left-back, giving him an opportunity to showcase his defensive skills as United aims to progress in the tournament. Wheatley, on the other hand, will be part of a dynamic attacking lineup featuring players like Gabriele Biancheri, Bendito Mantato, and Victor Musa. This collection of promising talent offers an exciting prospect, especially considering United’s strong position following their first-leg win.
Another interesting aspect is the potential debut of Sekou Kone, one of United’s summer signings, who could make his European debut for the youth side. Kone recently featured for United’s Under-21s in a match against Sunderland, and his inclusion in the Under-19 squad could give fans a glimpse of his future prospects within the club’s youth setup.
However, Chido Obi-Martin, another recent addition to the youth team, is missing from the lineup tonight. While his absence could be due to fitness or tactical reasons, it shifts the focus to players like Kone, Amass, and Wheatley, who will be looking to impress as United’s Under-19s aim to advance in the competition.
