‘Inspiration’ Taylor named as substitute

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer called cancer survivor Max Taylor an inspiration to the entire team after naming the teenage defender as part of Manchester United’s squad for the mammoth trip to Kazakhstan.

Tonight’s Europa League clash with Astana is the furthest the club have ever travelled for a European tie, with the 6,000mile round trip compounded by temperatures that are dipping below -12C in Nur-sultan.

It will be warmer inside the roofed Astana Arena, but with qualification to the round of 32 already assured, Solskjaer is using the Group L encounter as a chance to give experienced players minutes and prospects a taste of first-team football.

The Norwegian has selected 10 players for the trip that have yet to make their debut, including giving a first senior call-up 19-year-old Taylor at the end of a year that started with the defender receiving chemotherapy after being diagnosed with testicular cancer.

“It’s a fantastic story, to see him coming back,” Solskjaer said in Kazakhstan.

“I met Max very early after I got the job and to have seen his journey back to full fitness and the way he’s conducted himself.

“He’s been through something that no one should have to go through, but he’s come through the other end.

“He’s an inspiration for all the players.”

Taylor is set to start on the bench against Astana, where Solskjaer confirmed 19-yearolds Di’shon Bernard and Dylan Levitt will join 18-year-old Ethan Laird in making their debuts.

Arsenal could be without fullbacks Hector Bellerin and Sead Kolasinac for tonight’s clash with Eintracht Frankfurt.

The Gunners need just a point to book a place in the knockout stages but the pair are both dealing with hamstring worries.

Dani Ceballos is definitely absent with his own hamstring complaint while minor knee issues could sideline both Rob Holding and Bukayo Saka, while Granit Xhaka could be recalled by under-fire Unai Emery.

Max Taylor: Battled back to fitness after cancer.