Man Utd take FIVE academy teenagers to London for Spurs clash as injury crisis forces Ruben Amorim into shock line-up
MANCHESTER UNITED have been forced to take FIVE academy teenagers to London for their clash with Tottenham today amid their horror injury crisis.
The Red Devils currently have 11 first team stars out injured and Ruben Amorim has been forced into some uncomfortable decisions ahead of a huge visit to face Spurs.
Amad Diallo became the latest big name to find himself sidelined after suffering an ankle ligament injury – with the winger now expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Kobbie Mainoo is also out of action with a muscle strain, while fellow holders Manuel Ugarte and Toby Collyer are both major doubts.
Elsewhere Mason Mount, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof all remain out of action.
As a result, Amorim will now have to turn to youth with the struggling boss taking five teenagers in his travelling squad to North London.
Sekou Kone, Harry Amass, Jack Moorhouse, Elyh Harrison and Chido Obi have all travelled with the first team for the Premier League fixture.
None of those five youth stars have made their professional debut for United yet and would be thrown in at the deep end if they were given the nod by Amorim this afternoon.
United fans have been calling for Chido Obi, 17, to get a chance in the first team given his stunning goalscoring form in the youth leagues.
The Danish teenager, who signed for United from Arsenal this summer, has scored 37 goals in 24 U18 Premier League appearances over the last two seasons.
Man Utd injuries for Spurs clash
11 stars set to miss out:
- Lisandro Martinez
- Kobbie Mainoo
- Amad Diallo
- Manuel Ugarte
- Toby Collyer
- Luke Shaw
- Altay Bayindir
- Jonny Evans
- Victor Lindelof
- Tom Heaton
- Mason Mount
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While left-back Harry Amass, 17, caught the eye of United fans for his performances in the club’s pre-season fixtures this summer.
Amass, who represents England at U18 level, was thought to be highly rated by previous boss Erik ten Hag, who regularly asked him to train with the first team.
Midfielder Jack Moorhouse, 19, is another highly rated star and even had Amorim personally watch his performance during a 5-1 win over Southampton in December alongside Darren Fletcher and Jason Wilcox.
Fellow midfield talent Sekou Kone has a different story to the rest with United splashing £1million on the 19-year-old this summer in a deal with Guidars FC in his homeland of Mali.
And goalkeeper Elyh Harrison, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Chester, will provide backup should there be any more injuries to shot-stoppers, given the absences of Tom Heaton and Altay Bayindir already.
It’s unlikely that any of the teenagers will start, but we could see a few of them thrown onto the bench and potentially getting some minutes depending on the state of play.
Amorim’s opposite number, Ange Postecoglou, has given more minutes to teenagers than any other Premier League boss this term due to Spurs’ own injury crisis.
Kids Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall have emerged as regular first team starters as a result.
For Amorim, it’s more likely that the youngsters will start on the bench with the Old Trafford head honcho expected to play Andre Onana in goal with a back five of Patrick Dorgu, Diogo Dalot, Leny Yoro, Mathijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui in front of him.
That defensive line would be complimented by a midfield pairing of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen.
While Joshua Zirkzee, Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes would make up the attack for Amorim.
Should he want to squeeze one of the kids in, then fans would be most excited to see youth bagsman Obi given his opportunity to shine in the Premier League.
That decision would probably see Fernandes drop into a deeper role and Obi play as part of the front three instead.
While both Rasmus Hojlund and Harry Maguire could be chosen to return to the lineup.