United’s teenage cancer survivor joins rookie squad
Taylor rewarded with Europa League call-up Personal touch may help in pursuit of Haaland
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is taking a team packed with youth to Kazakhstan for tomorrow’s Europa League game against Astana, including defender Max Taylor, who has only just returned to training after treatment for testicular cancer.
The 19-year-old made his first appearance for United’s Under-23s last month after finishing a course of chemotherapy.
It has been only eight months since Taylor received the devastating diagnosis, but he has made remarkable progress on and off the pitch. That has been rewarded by Solskjaer, the Manchester United manager, who is set to name one of the youngest United teams for a European fixture.
Defender Luke Shaw is also likely to be involved for the first time since August. Shaw, back in training after a hamstring injury only a fortnight ago, is in need of game time to regain full fitness.
The fact Nicky Butt is travelling instead of first-team coaches Kieron Mckenna and Michael Carrick, who will remain in Manchester to prepare for Sunday’s clash with Aston Villa, suggests Solskjaer has decided to use the game to give some of his academy players experience.
Butt was head of United’s academy until he became first-team development officer in the summer, to help young players make the transition to senior football.
United have already ensured their place in the knockout stage ahead of their clash with Astana – who are yet to register a point in Group L – and their final fixture with AZ Alkmaar.
With temperatures dropping to -15C overnight and, given the sixhour time difference, as well as the 2,984-mile journey, this is not a fixture United want at this time of year. Although the Astana Stadium has a roof to protect them from the worst of the elements, the players have been told not to spend more than 10 minutes outside at a time because of the cold.
But the game does give Solskjaer an opportunity to experiment, with Mason Greenwood likely to start up front, as he did against Partizan Belgrade, with midfielder James Garner also in the team.
There are other exciting prospects pushing to be involved, including Dylan Levitt, named in the Wales squad this month after impressing for United’s Under-23s.
The 18-year-old Belgian winger, Largie Ramazani, is another who has caught the eye in that team, scoring nine goals in 12 games, but he is likely to have to wait a little longer for his first-team breakthrough.
Meanwhile, confidence is growing behind the scenes at Old Trafford that Norwegian teenager Erling Haaland will choose to sign for them.
Haaland has scored 26 goals in all competitions this season and is well known to Solskjaer as they were at Molde together and while Red Bull Salzburg would prefer to wait until the summer before they sell the 19-year-old, United could well make a January bid to bring that date forward.
Haaland, son of the former Manchester City midfielder Alf-inge, is being watched by all the big clubs in Europe, but Solskjaer hopes their personal relationship gives United an advantage.