Manchester United’s travelling squad for the match against FCSB has been confirmed with neither Luke Shaw nor Marcus Rashford included, despite both featuring in first-team training at Carrington today.
The Red Devils travel to Romania to play FCSB (formerly known as Steaua Bucharest) tomorrow night in the final round of the Europa League group phase.
Ruben Amorim’s side have already qualified for the knockouts as they are currently fourth in the new format league table, having yet to lose a game in the competition.
However, a win would confirm United’s place in the top eight, which gives automatic progression to the last-sixteen round, bypassing the first knockout stage.
And given Amorim has been desperate for as many training sessions with his new squad, and fewer games, the opportunity to miss a two-legged tie will be welcome to the Portuguese coach.
As such, he is expected to name a strong side tomorrow evening in the hope of killing the game off early and securing automatic qualification in the process.
Shaw, 29, and Rashford, 27, were both spotted in first-team training today, suggesting they may be included in the travelling squad. This was never a realistic prospect for Rashford though, given the ongoing issues with Amorim over the forward’s attitude and application.
However, there had been hope Shaw would return to provide a welcome boost in defence.
The England international has been limited to just three substitute appearances since Amorim’s arrival in November, having spent the first portion of the season injured. He then subsequently picked up another injury which has seen him absent from the first-team for nearly two months.
Shaw took part in the full session today but it’s been deemed premature for the left-back to travel to Romania in what essentially amounts to a rubber game of sorts, given United have already qualified for the knockout phase, despite the club evidently wanting to finish in the top eight.
Jonny Evans (muscular injury) and Mason Mount (thigh injury) continue to recover individually at the club’s training ground.
Mark Critchley (The Athletic) revealed the squad who will travel to Bucharest today, sans Shaw and Rashford.
#mufc travelling squad vs FCSB:
Bayindir, Heaton, Onana, Dalot, De Ligt, Lindelof, Maguire, Malacia, Martinez, Mazraoui, Yoro, Casemiro, Collyer, Eriksen, Fernandes, Mainoo, Ugarte, Amad, Garnacho, Hojlund, Zirkzee— Mark Critchley (@mjcritchley) January 29, 2025
Tweet: “#mufc travelling squad vs FCSB: Bayindir, Heaton, Onana, Dalot, De Ligt, Lindelof, Maguire, Malacia, Martinez, Mazraoui, Yoro, Casemiro, Collyer, Eriksen, Fernandes, Mainoo, Ugarte, Amad, Garnacho, Hojlund, Zirkzee.”
Even without the experienced English pair, the squad selected by United should have more than enough to overcome their Romanian opponents.
Feature image Richard Pelham via Getty Images
Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
