It seems Manchester United has decided not to include Harry Amass, Jack Fletcher, or Ethan Wheatley in their squad for Thursday night’s Europa League showdown against PAOK, which will take place at Old Trafford. The trio was notably absent from the club’s open training session held at Carrington on Wednesday morning. This absence stirred speculation about their status, but United later confirmed that these players would instead be participating in the UEFA Youth League. Specifically, they are slated to feature in the Under-19 squad’s match against FK Zalgiris.
This upcoming Youth League encounter is the second leg of United’s tie against the Lithuanian club. In the first leg, held last month, United’s Under-19 team demonstrated their strength with a decisive 5-2 victory. Now, as they prepare for the second leg at Leigh Sports Village, United has officially added Amass and Wheatley to their lineup. This inclusion highlights the club’s focus on nurturing young talent through competitive European fixtures, even as the senior squad focuses on its Europa League commitments.
Interestingly, Amass and Wheatley have been closely involved with the senior team in recent weeks. In United’s last Europa League outing against Fenerbahce, both players were listed on the bench. Alongside Fletcher, they have also been regulars among the substitutes for the past three games, giving them valuable exposure to high-level competition. During recent Premier League matches against Chelsea and Leicester City, another youngster, Jayce Fitzgerald, joined them on the bench, further indicating the club’s interest in developing future stars.
Despite their growing involvement, however, Amass, Fletcher, and Wheatley were not among the 25-man squad that took part in Wednesday’s training session at Carrington. Only two young players—Daniel Armer and Jack Kingdon—were included in that media-open session, suggesting that Amass, Fletcher, and Wheatley would focus solely on the Youth League match instead of participating in the Europa League clash against PAOK.
For the Youth League fixture tonight, Amass is expected to start at left-back, which will offer him a chance to showcase his defensive abilities and contribute to United’s goal of progressing further in the tournament. Wheatley, meanwhile, joins a promising lineup of attackers that includes Gabriele Biancheri, Bendito Mantato, and Victor Musa. This assembly of young talent promises an exciting contest, especially considering United’s solid lead from the first leg.
There’s also the prospect of seeing Sekou Kone, one of United’s summer acquisitions, make his European debut for the youth squad. The young talent recently made his first appearance for United’s Under-21 side, coming off the bench in a match against Sunderland. His inclusion in the Under-19 roster for tonight’s game could provide a glimpse into his potential and future role within the club’s youth setup.
Notably absent from tonight’s Youth League lineup, however, is Chido Obi-Martin, another recent addition to United’s youth ranks. While his absence may be due to various strategic or fitness considerations, it leaves the spotlight on players like Kone, Amass, and Wheatley, who will look to make a strong impression as United’s Under-19 team seeks to secure their position in the
next round.