Manchester United have named the squad for the Europa League knockout stages and there are three changes.
Confirmed via UEFA’s official website, Manchester United added in a trio of new signings, with three players being removed.
Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek are still named in the squad despite their injuries.
There is no place in the squad for Phil Jones or Brandon Williams, neither of who have played a single minute this season.
READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfers in, out, loan deals for January 2023
Europa League squad
In: Wout Weghorst, Marcel Sabitzer, Jack Butland
Out: Axel Tuanzebe, Martin Dubravka, Cristiano Ronaldo
Omitted again: Brandon Williams, Phil Jones
United Europa League squad: De Gea, Heaton, Butland, Dalot, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Maguire, Lindelof, Malacia, Shaw, Casemiro, McTominay, Fred, Eriksen, Sabitzer, Van de Beek, Fernandes, Pellistri, Antony, Rashford, Sancho, Martial, Weghorst, Garnacho.
B list: Vitek, Fredricson, Iqbal, Mainoo, Elanga, Shoretire, McNeill
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Analysis
United had to find space for all three new signings, and that was easy enough. Dubravka and Ronaldo’s departures facilitated the arrivals of Butland and Weghorst.
Axel Tuanzebe has been sent out on loan to Stoke, and if he hadn’t, it would still have been a simple choice to leave him out, due to his battle with fitness.
For Brandon Williams his omission is a major blow. He failed to land a loan move, and while he is emergency back-up for the full-back positions, he won’t be available in the Europa League. Hopefully he won’t be needed.
Phil Jones’ situation is farcical. The defender has had terrible luck with injuries, with Erik ten Hag recently saying Jones has completed just one training session. He will be released when his United contract expires in June.
Charlie McNeill is on the B squad, despite his loan at Newport County. This suggests he could be recalled in an emergency situation, along with Shola Shoretire, who is at Bolton.