Two of Man Utd’s biggest winners against Athletic Club weren’t even in the squad, Ruben Amorim can take next step

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Manchester United have one foot firmly planted into the Europa League final after a first leg thrashing of Athletic Club on Thursday night.

Talked up for the past fortnight as the toughest and most important game of the season so far, the hosts over in Bilbao failed to live up to their billing.

Manchester United looked in control for the entirety of the 3-0 win at San Mames, silencing a passionate crowd in a stadium which Athletic Club labelled as ‘hell’ before United arrived.

It was a fairly straight forward clash for Ruben Amorim’s side which sets up what should be a simple second leg next week at Old Trafford.

For the biggest game of the season, Amorim turned to United’s experienced players and they didn’t let him down with Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Harry Maguire the three standout performers.

In the win, there were five winners from United’s performance, but there were two huge winners in the stadium with United, who weren’t even named in the squad by Amorim.

• READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Man Utd’s head coach – Ruben Amorim

Chido Obi and Sekou Kone experience incredible European night at Manchester United

Despite both being inelligible for the clash, Amorim included Chido Obi and Sekou Kone in United’s travelling squad for the trip to Bilbao. The reasoning behind this was because United will train on Friday over in Spain, but it also gave the pair another incredible European stadium.

Both youngsters were in the pitch to appluad fans at full-time in their United tracksuits, and to have been in the stadium and experienced such a hostile opposition fanbase will only aid the development of the 17 and 19 year-olds.

Neither have started a game in senior football to date, but nights like this and being in and around the squad will prepare both for big European nights like this which they will hopefully be involved in over the coming campaigns.

For Kone in particular, this experience was important, if he is to be handed a chance by Amorim, exposure to big crowds and pressure situations like this will help with his integration at the club following his £1m move from FC Guidars last summer.

With a Europa League final to guarantee next week, this weekend’s clash with Brentford could see Amorim take risks with United’s youth players as he admitted he would have to do two weeks ago.

• READ: Who is Chido Obi? Wonderkid who has left Arsenal to join Manchester United move

How many Manchester United academy players could start against Brentford?

Speaking on MUTV following Thursday’s 3-0 win, David May said it best when he admitted on Sunday he would “wrap the players in cotton wool” and instead “play the kids” in a game which means very little for United.

Due to this, it could be that United field a youth centric team which could see as many as five in the starting line-up.

Harry Amass and Tyler Fredricson are likely nailed on to start for United, while Jaydan Kamason could get his United chance with Noussair Mazraoui needing a rest, as Amorim admitted the defender was ‘dead’.

Kone could finally get his chance in midfield with Casemiro surely set to be rested and Toby Collyer injured. Meanwhile, up front, there is no reason Obi should not be starting with Hojlund’s encouraging performance on Thursday showing he should also be protected for the second leg.

Perhaps even Bendito Mantato is in line to make his debut after being included in the squad in Bilbao.

It will be interesting to see how Amorim lines up, but rotation would be smart move.