Manchester United have handed a late call-up to one of their young stars ahead of a crucial European game with PAOK on Thursday night. After starting their Europa League campaign with three straight draws, nothing less than three points will do for Ruud van Nistelrooy with the club currently 22nd in the Europa League table.
And just hours before the 8pm kick-off, academy midfielder Jayce Fitzgerald has been added to the UEFA B list, making him eligible to play against the Greek side.
United's actual match squad won't be revealed until 75 minutes before the start, but the 17-year-old now looks likely to be involved given the club have chosen to rush through his forms on the day of the game.
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The midfielder, who can also be deployed at right back, is yet to make his senior debut. However, he was included in the matchday squad for the 5-2 Carabao Cup victory over Leicester City last week, and retained his place for Sunday's 1-1 draw against Chelsea.
UEFA rules state that homegrown players under the age of 21 are eligible for the list if meet certain criteria, including having at least two years uninterrupted at the club since the age of 15. And the highly-rated Fitzgerald can also boast experience at youth level in both European and international football.
Only last night (Wednesday), he played the first half of the United under-19s' 6-0 UEFA Youth League second-leg win over FK Zalgiris at Leigh Sports Village. It meant an 11-2 aggregate victory and a tie with AZ Alkmaar in the third round.
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He's also been capped four times by England at under-17 level, and is said to be highly rated at Old Trafford after joining in July 2022. Fitzgerald now becomes the ninth player on the club's Europa League B List, which includes the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.
Other youngsters listed are Toby Collyer, Dan Gore, Louis Jackson, Sam Mather, Habeeb Ogunneye and Ethan Wheatley. They are all in addition to the 25 players permitted on the A List.
The game with PAOK represents Van Nistelrooy's penultimate match as interim coach. He'll also take charge of another clash with Leicester on Sunday, this time in the Premier League, before Ruben Amorim takes the reigns.
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But the Dutchman has already shown a willingness to blood youngsters, having given Wheatley a debut in the Carabao Cup win. "I have to say the lads did really well in training. They also were a part of pre-season," Van Nistelrooy told MUTV.
"They’re still very young, 17 and 18-year-olds. They need time, but they showed already that they can help the team – like Ethan Wheatley. He came on in the Carabao Cup against Leicester as an 18-year-old striker. He has a lot of potential, but the others do as well. So we keep working with them as well.”
