Rúben Amorim reportedly now sees a Manchester United Academy duo as “key” as he prepares his squad to face Athletic Club in the Europa League semi-finals.
Manchester United return to Old Trafford looking to finish the job against Athletic Club in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final.
A dominant 3-0 win in the first leg, courtesy of Casemiro’s opener and a brace from Bruno Fernandes, has put Rúben Amorim’s side firmly in the driving seat as they eye a place in the final.
Elsewhere, Tottenham Hotspur take a 3-1 aggregate lead into their second leg against FK Bodø/Glimt, but must navigate a challenging away trip to the Arctic Circle to book their ticket to Bilbao.
With both United and Spurs sitting 15th and 16th in the Premier League, the Europa League is now their last hope of Champions League football next season.
Amorim pinpoints Academy duo as “key” vs Athletic Club
In the club’s last outing, the 4-3 loss against Brentford, Amorim fielded United’s youngest-ever Premier League starting line-up, with six players in the starting side aged 20 or younger.
Amid preparations for the Athletic Club fixture now in full swing, many noted that neither Bentido Mantato nor Jaydan Kamason were involved as the club’s U21s team defeated West Ham in a 4-1 win on Monday afternoon.
According to Mail Sport journalist Nathan Salt, who regularly covers the club’s Academy, this decision was taken at Amorim’s behest as he prepares his first-team squad to face Athletic Club.
Salt’s report claims that Amorim sees the teenage duo as “key” in his preparations for the European semi-final second leg and will include them in his training group.
Therefore, the decision was taken that neither player could be risked during the Monday afternoon tie at Leigh Sports Village.
Another debut on the cards?
Amorim has been keen to hand debuts to those rising through the Academy recently, with Chido Obi, Harry Amass, and Tyler Fredricson all included in starting teams over the last four weeks.
With United short in the wing-back department, the European semi-final second leg could be the perfect chance for either Mantato or Kamason to be granted their first minutes in the senior side.
While it’s thought that neither player will start as Noussair Mazraoui is expected to return to the squad, their profiles are a perfect fit for Amorim’s right wing-back position amid the absence of Diogo Dalot and tenderness of Amad’s fitness.
Kamason would be better suited to the wing-back role while Mantato could be a fantastic option at left-forward in the future.
Should United find themselves in a comfortable position in the second half of the tie with a 3-0 lead already, Amorim may look to reward either player at Old Trafford.
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