Cancer survivor Taylor can ‘inspire entire team’

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 callow 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 6,000-mile round trip compounded by temperatures that are dipping below -12°C 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 who have yettomaketheirdebut,including giving a first senior call-up to 19-year-old Taylor, pictured, 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. “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, and it’s something that he’ll always have with him. 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. You can see now when he goes out on to the pitch, there’s no fear anymore. “He’s allowed to have had fear in his life. When you’re on the football pitch, you should enjoy yourself and I hope that we can see him progress in his career.”

Taylor is set to start on the bench against Astana, where Solskjaer confirmed 19-yearolds Di’shon Bernard and Dylan Levitt will join 18-yearold Ethan Laird in making their debuts. The trio will be joined in the starting line-up by third-choice goalkeeper Lee Grant, who makes his full debut for United at 36.