Defender Kelly eyed by Saints
United boss will turn to James Garner (and his other kids) to dig him out of a hole.. but Pog’s in doghouse
MANCHESTER UNITED boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has turned to youth ahead of the final game of the club’s troubled season.
United missed out on a Champions League spot at Huddersfield on Sunday.
An abject 1-1 draw consigned the Reds to Thursday nights in the Europa League next season.
Solskjaer has been frustrated by the performances and attitude of many of his established stars – and responded by promoting six youth players to first-team duty this week.
Angel Gomes, Dylan Levitt, Arnau Puigmal, Mason Greenwood, James Garner and Tahith Chong all trained with the big boys ahead of Sunday’s final game of the campaign against Cardiff at Old Trafford.
Solskjaer is likely to use the match to give the youngsters a chance to show what they can do ahead of next season. Chong came off the bench to replace Alexis Sanchez at Huddersfield, while Gomes, Garner (with Jesse Lingard, left) and Greenwood (with Chris Smalling, bottom left) have all been involved with the first-team before. Spanish midfielder Puigmal, 18, and Wales Under-19 international Levitt have caught the eye in the United youth ranks. But Solskjaer has been unimpressed with contributions from Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku, Lingard, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford in recent weeks – while defenders Luke Shaw, Phil Jones and Ashley Young have also angered the former Reds striker.
United’s academy chief Nicky Butt said: “Chongy’s very humble and ultra hard-working, a good pro who knows himself he has got a long way to go to be a regular at this club. But he has had a sniff of it and a taste of it.” Man City Liverpool Chelsea Tottenham Arsenal
Man Utd Wolves Everton Leicester Watford West Ham Crystal Palace Bournemouth Newcastle Burnley Southampton Brighton Cardiff (R) Fulham (R) Hudd’sfield (R) P W D L F A Pts 37 31 2 4 91 22 95 37 29 7 1 87 22 94 37 21 8 8 63 39 71 37 23 1 13 65 37 70 37 20 7 10 70 50 67 37 19 9 9 65 52 66 37 16 9 12 47 44 57 37 15 8 14 52 44 53 37 15 6 16 51 48 51 37 14 8 15 51 55 50 37 14 7 16 48 54 49 37 13 7 17 46 50 46 37 13 6 18 53 65 45 37 11 9 17 38 48 42 37 11 7 19 44 65 40 37 9 11 17 44 64 38 37 9 9 19 34 56 36 37 9 4 24 32 69 31 37 7 5 25 34 77 26 37 3 6 28 21 75 15 SOUTHAMPTON are chasing Bristol City defender Lloyd Kelly.
Saints scouts have watched £15million-rated Kelly, 20, (above, right) this season and enquired about the England Under-21 star in January.
Boss Ralph Hasenhuttl wants to build his side around young up-andcoming players and Kelly fits the bill.
The Robins could replace Kelly with Coventry defender Jordan Willis, but face competition from Luton, Derby and Sheffield Wednesday. Coventryborn Willis, 24, is set to leave the Ricoh Arena on a free this summer.