Ruud van Nistelrooy’s interim spell may be ending but, with PAOK to come on Thursday night, the Manchester United legend could yet look to lay down a legacy.
If a certain teenage midfielder one day blossoms into a first-team regular at Manchester United – following in the footsteps of Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho – then the history books will always show that it was Ruud van Nistelrooy who handed him his first senior outing in that famous red shirt.
Well, that’s if Jayce Fitzgerald features against the Greek champions at Old Trafford, of course.
But he is now free to do just that, with Man United confirming via their official website that the 17-year-old has been added to their UEFA B squad list in preparation for that PAOK clash.
As such, Fitzgerald will be available to follow his maiden first-team call-up against Leicester City in the EFL Cup with a Man United debut in Van Nistelrooy’s penultimate game at the helm.
Manchester United make Jayce Fitzgerald available for PAOK clash
Players under the age of 21 need not be registered for the UEFA A roster in European competition. As such, Mainoo and Garnacho are also on the B-list, alongside Toby Collyer, Dan Gore, Ethan Wheatley and more.
Fitzgerald is the latest addition.
Man United’s number 75 did play in the first half as Adam Lawrence’s uber-talented Under 18 side slammed FK Zalgiris of Lithuania in the UEFA Youth League on Wednesday.
And while much of the post-match discussion centred around his replacement – Sekou Kone was his twinkle-toed best on his European bow for Man United – was Fitzgerald’s removal with 45 minutes on the clock and the tie over as a contest a hint at his involvement against PAOK 24 hours later?
That is a question which will have an answer by 10pm on Thursday evening.
And after Van Nistelrooy included Fitzgerald in his squad both for that Leicester hammering and Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea, it would be a surprise if the England Under 17 international was not on the bench again as Man United look to finally get off the mark in a poor European campaign.
Man United thrash FK Zalgiris as Gabriele Biancheri scores again
Fitzgerald is a deep-lying ball-player in the mould of Barcelona legend Sergio Busquets. Or, perhaps, a Michael Carrick.
While a midfielder by trade, he has also been utilised as a centre-half by youth coach Lawrence of late, helping United to dominate possession while providing an extra element of control to their build-up from the back.
Fitzgerald was back in his more familiar number six spot as the young Devils put Zalgiris to the sword, however. That 6-0 midweek win secured an 11-2 aggregate victory.
Man United’s prolific Gabriel Biancheri followed up a first-leg brace with another in midweek. Thus, taking his tally to a sensational 17 for the season already.
With Ethan Wheatley ahead of him in development terms as things stand, however, Biancheri will have to wait as he looks to follow Fitzgerald into the first-team set-up.
“[Playing Man United’s kids is] difficult. We are not used to such speeds,” Zalgiris youth boss Dainius Greviskis said after that 5-2 first-leg hammering.
“All are technical, fast, play with the ball. They just pressed us. It was not easy, but we defended for half an hour.
“That one goal [Biancheri] scored in the first-half… just top class.”
Related Posts
