United travel to local rivals at Elland Road on Sunday with a long injury list
Ruben Amorim has warned young Manchester United players to brace themselves for a difficult afternoon at Elland Road.
Jack Fletcher, Shay Lacey and Bendito Mantato have all been told to expect a hostile atmosphere when United travel to Leeds on Sunday, with the head coach again likely to rely on academy players because of a long injury list.
United are set to be without eight senior options. Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt and Mason Mount are injured, while Noussair Mazraoui, Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo are away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The situation has forced Amorim to hand opportunities to teenagers over recent weeks. The 18-year-old Fletcher has appeared in United’s last three matches, including the defeat at Aston Villa, the win over Newcastle and the draw with Wolves. Lacey, also 18, featured against Villa, while 17-year-old Mantato made his debut against Wolves.
Asked whether the trio could cope with the intensity of an away trip to Leeds, Amorim said: “They have to. It’s a game in a hostile environment but they need to be ready and they need to experience that.
“But it’s going to be hard for any player. Even the guys with a lot of experience. We already experienced that. [Athletic] Bilbao last year was amazing, the sound.”
With limited options at his disposal, United’s head coach admitted his side would face a stern test in a demanding winter schedule.
“You can see the squad – it’s impossible, we cannot stretch the players,” Amorim said. “Of course I will try to put a team that is ready to cope with that and then I will try to read the game and try to understand what I should do to help them to win the game.”
Despite United’s injury problems, there might be no foray into the market in the January transfer window. The club had been interested in Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, but he is now expected to join Manchester City. Amorim said there had been “no conversation to have any change in the squad”.
“We are near the places of the Champions League but we are near to like eight teams behind us, so let’s focus on the next game, just that,” Amorim said.
