Why Amass is on Man Utd’s 25-man Europa League squad list and Garnacho and Mainoo are not, plus Sekou Kone status

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Manchester United have confirmed the club’s Europa League squad for the 2024/25 season.

An expanded Europa League group stage will stretch Manchester United’s squad over the upcoming campaign.

The Europa League draw last week set up some interesting fixtures, including a reunion with Jose Mourinho, along with Shola Shoretire’s immediate return to Old Trafford with PAOK.

United have now had to submit a squad list to UEFA, with few items of note…

Manchester United’s Europa League squad

Manchester United’s 25-man squad for the Europa League squad has been submitted.

• Goalkeepers: Bayindir, Heaton, Onana, Mee
• Defenders: Lindelof, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez, Malacia, Yoro, Dalot, Shaw, Evans, Amass
• Midfielders: Mount, Fernandes, Eriksen, Casemiro, Ugarte
• Attackers: Hojlund, Rashford, Zirkzee, Amad, Antony

Unlike last year when Donny van de Beek was left out of the Champions League squad amid an attempt to force through a loan move to Turkey, unsuccessfully, there are no indications the likes of Eriksen or Casemiro will be heading out.

Notably, Leny Yoro and Tyrell Malacia are both included, offering encouragement they will be back from injury in good time.

B-squad allows homegrown call-ups

Do not panic at not seeing Kobbie Mainoo or Alejandro Garnacho on the list. Along with Toby Collyer, Ethan Wheatley, et al, they all qualify as homegrown players.

They can and will be added to a separate B-list, to supplement the 25-man squad, meaning the academy graduates are all eligible to play in the Europa League.

The one quirk is that Harry Amass did need to be on the main list. As he only signed from Watford in 2023, he does not count as a homegrown Manchester United player, per UEFA rules. A player must have spent two full seasons at a club to count.

The fact United have gone out of their way to include Amass on the main list demonstrates that he can look forward to game time in the competition this season.

One perhaps disappointing absence is new signing Sekou Kone. It is not believed that he would be eligible to be called up as he is a new arrival, while this could also count against Chido Obi-Martin too, once his move is approved.

Amad Diallo and Dermot Mee can no longer count as homegrown as they are over 21.

United’s first Europa League game is later this month against FC Twente.