Manchester United have added Phil Jones and Lee Grant to their Champions League squad ahead of the last-16 clash against Atletico Madrid.
The Reds have removed Amad Diallo, Donny van de Beek and Anthony Martial from the squad list after all three players departed the club on loan during the January transfer window.
But fourth choice goalkeeper Grant and centre back Jones have been added to the list of players available for the growingly important two-legged tie against the reigning La Liga champions, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Grant’s inclusion is likely to have come due to academy goalkeeper Matej Kovar joining League One side Burton Albion on loan, on deadline day.
The 39-year-old has only played for Manchester United twice. His last appearance came in a Europa League dead rubber in Kazakhstan, against Astana, in November 2019, when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer handed out a number of debuts to the club’s academy players.
His debut was a 20-minute outing against his former club Derby County in the Carabao Cup when he came on as a substitute after Sergio Romero got a red card. We lost the cup tie on penalties.
Jones, who has made two appearances for Ralf Rangnick’s Reds since returning from injury, hasn’t made a Champions League appearance since playing at right-back in the 3-0 defeat at the Nou Camp, in April 2019.
UEFA allows clubs to make up to three changes to their Champions League squads after the January transfer window.
United had to submit their ‘List A’ players to UEFA by 11pm on February 1, but can still add List B players, who are those under the age of 21, before each matchday.
After Rangnick fielded a youthful squad in the group stage dead rubber against Young Boys, United already had Matej Kovar, Teden Mengi, Bjorn Hardley, Hannibal Mejbri, Charlie Wellens, Charlie Savage, Zidane Iqbal, Sam Mather, Anthony Elanga and Shola Shoretire on their B list.
United travel to the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium for the first leg on Wednesday, February 23, before the return at Old Trafford on Tuesday, March 15.
The away goals rule is no longer being used by UEFA to determine the victor in knockout stage games when the scores are level after the two legs.
Instead, the tie will go to extra time and penalties.
- Fabrizio Romano’s update on Ederson vs Brazilian reporter leaves Man Utd fans unsure what to believe
- How much Man Utd are set to pocket as Mason Greenwood edges closer to Fenerbahce deal
- Meet the nine Man Utd youngsters Michael Carrick could make first-team regulars this summer
- Where Andrey Santos ranks among Manchester United’s most expensive midfielders
- Andrey Santos can echo Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah by exposing Chelsea’s impatience
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
