A dominant 11-2 aggregate victory over Lithuanian youth champions FK Zalgiris qualifies Manchester United’s Under-19s for the UEFA Youth League third round, where they’ll take on AZ Alkmaar.

Adam Lawrence’s young Reds were crowned English champions back in May, earning them a place in Europe’s elite club competition at this level, as well as the glistening league trophy.

A 5-2 triumph in Vilnius a fortnight ago at Zalgiris’ LFF Stadium gave United confidence and a three-goal advantage coming into Wednesday evening’s second leg at Leigh Sports Village, where Lawrence’s outfit wasted little time in extending their advantage.

Ethan Williams, a double goalscorer out in Lithuania, coolly slotted home past Joris Aliukonis seven minutes in, assisted excellently by Ashton Missin, equally lively in Greater Manchester as he was in the first leg.

That another would follow seemed immediately likely, with midfielder Jacob Devaney shooting wide twice, the first after a smartly pulled-back corner from Williams, and then when pouncing on a loose ball at the area’s edge.

It was a corner from the opening goalscorer Williams that saw United’s lead double. Captain Tyler Fredricson headed well into the bottom right corner after the pace of the cross beat the goalkeeper.

United maintained tempo well even after opening up a five-goal aggregate advantage, and that had been boosted to six by the break. Ethan Wheatley finished inventively at the near post after Harry Amass had stretched to cross from the area’s left side.

Wheatley could have had another before half-time. The English striker drove forward from the halfway line on the counter-attack and moved into space created by Fitzgerald’s smart movement. His eventual shot was tipped around the right post for a corner.

Summer arrival Sekou Kone made his second competitive United appearance as a half-time substitute for Fitzgerald.

The Reds failed to convert a couple of half-chances before Missin earned just reward for his positive performance across both legs, tapping in from close range after a left-wing cross had gone loose in the box.

Zalgiris showed some threat around the hour mark, allowing United to counter. On one occasion, Devaney shot early with the goalkeeper out of his area, nearly finding the net from 35 yards with a creative lob.

Substitute James Scanlon shot narrowly wide of the right post before fellow second-half arrival Gabriele Biancheri found United’s fifth of the night and his 13th of the season. The Welsh forward showed good footwork to generate space in the box, getting away from his marker sufficiently to shoot and find the far right corner.

Scanlon then added United’s sixth late on, having been denied by Aliukonis only a minute before.

UNITED: Murdock; Kamason, Jackson (Munro 68), Fredricson (c), Amass (Mantato 61); Devaney, Fitzgerald (Kone 45); Missin, J. Fletcher, Williams (Scanlon 68); Wheatley (Biancheri 61).

Unused subs: Musa, Baumann, Kukonki, Byrne-Hughes.

Goals: Williams 8, Fredricson 17, Wheatley 37, Missin 57, Biancheri 78, Scanlon 89.

While this game couldn’t be shown live on MUTV due to UEFA broadcasting restrictions – the match clashed with fixtures in the Champions League – highlights will be available on ManUtd.com and the United App as soon as possible. Saturday’s 11:00 GMT U18 Premier League meeting with Everton will be shown live on MUTV. Subscribe here to watch.

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Van Nistelrooy: Malacia almost ready to return

Ruud van Nistelrooy says Tyrell Malacia is closing in on his first competitive minutes in almost 18 months.

The Dutch full-back has not played for United since the final match of the 2022/23 Premier League season – a 2-1 victory over Fulham at Old Trafford.

Malacia was welcomed back to team training in September of this year, after that long spell on the sidelines, and has been stepping up his rehabilitation programme since that point.

Ahead of Thursday’s Europa League fixture against PAOK of Greece, interim head coach van Nistelrooy told gathered media at Carrington that the defender was not far away from featuring in a match – though the club legend hinted that Tyrell’s comeback may take place in an Under-21s game, rather than the first-team equivalent.

“[All the injured players are] different cases, all of them,” said the boss.

“Tyrell is the furthest [along the road to recovery] in the moment – he’s [been] part of team training for a couple of weeks now, full in team training, no restrictions.

“So it’s good for him to plan game minutes, maybe in the Under-21s. We have to see.”

Ruud also commented on Harry Maguire and the Reds’ other absent left-back, Luke Shaw, who has not taken to a football pitch since the Euro 2024 final in the summer, when he was part of an England team beaten by Spain in Berlin.

“Harry is still inside, working on his rehab, and Luke also does pitch work like he did today, and he’s progressing there to also do partial team training, hopefully soon.”

United were handed three boosts earlier on Wednesday, when Leny Yoro took part in an open team training session. The Frenchman is yet to play competitively for the Reds since joining from Lille in July, after suffering an injury during a pre-season match against Arsenal.

Christian Eriksen was also present, after missing our most recent games against Leicester City and Chelsea, while Antony was seen for the first time since suffering an injury during the 1-1 draw with Fenerbahce.

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Van Nistelrooy’s advice for Hojlund

Manchester United interim head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy has addressed the media ahead of his first European game in charge of the side.

Ruud held a press conference at Carrington and was asked what advice he would give current striker Rasmus Hojlund, who will be looking to find the net against PAOK and help inspire a first victory in the competition this term.

In advance of Thursday’s 20:00 GMT kick-off, the Dutchman was also asked about Ruben Amorim’s arrival as head coach later this month, but preferred to keep his focus on the task in hand. 

He also disagreed the team is struggling to create chances and answered a question about the club’s form in Europe over the past decade.

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NO CONTACT WITH RUBEN

“No, I didn’t have contact, so far. So no changes in that. I don’t know when yet either. It is difficult to comment on that now. I’m waiting for conversations to take place and, in the meantime, obviously the one thing that is the most important thing for this football club now is getting the work done, on a daily basis, and the game coming up tomorrow in Europe. A European night at Old Trafford, against the Greek champions, second in the league currently. I welcome Ruben, I’m here to help him and that is the situation at the moment.”

A BIG RESPONSIBILITY

“As I said, I’m focusing on the players that are currently fit. That’s my job, [to] manage them as good as I can. I’m so focused on today and tomorrow, to do well for the short spell I’m responsible for this football club. I take that as a big responsibility.”

ADVICE FOR HOJLUND

“My advice? Stay calm and believe in himself, believes in his qualities. Like I do and his team-mates do. He knows he’s young and he’s promising and the daily work he puts in will pay off in the end. Not only for him but his team-mates. And I’m confident in that. I mean, most goals are scored in the penalty area, it’s where we want to get our players as much as we can, but it depends on the games. There have been games where we’ve arrived many, many times, creating many chances. Unfortunately, we couldn’t convert them all and that cost us a couple of results. But you have to deal with circumstances. When it’s needed, to hold up play and get players into the third-man position and play on from there, he does a brilliant job [with that] as well. And, of course, he is a guy who can change a game in a second, like with the penalty moment [against Chelsea]. We just need one or two in the box, and you can be him but it can be the others as well, so that’s a threat we always have.”

WE ARE MAKING CHANCES

“I don’t agree we didn’t create enough chances. I think, if you look at the stats, we are one of the teams creating the most chances and it’s the conversion [that is letting us down]. It’s why I said I’m not worried. We’re creating the chances and, with the talent we have, they are still young. Not only the two you mentioned [Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee] but [there are] others as well with lots of potential. If the results will keep coming, confidence will rise. That’s the key thing to scoring goals: confidence. I think the guys will do that and, hopefully, carry on in tomorrow’s game.”

PAOK THE PRIORITY

“Like I commented before, the game is of high priority for us tomorrow. We don’t look past the game to further games. We know we need all our attention on PAOK. We analysed them very well. We know they’re the current champions, PAOK, and it’s a big achievement. They’re second behind Aris at the moment and have lots of talented players, experienced players and a strong side. They will be supported with 4,000 fans travelling and supporting the team. We are ready to face a very tough game tomorrow.”

OUR RECENT EUROPEAN RECORD

“Well, I think it’s a big question for me to answer, why it didn’t work in the last 10 years. For me it’s important and a reason why I arrived at he club, to help the club build for those years again, where there were successful times in Europe. Obviously, there was a Europa League final, if I remember, with Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] and a Europa League win, with Jose Mourinho. That was in the last 10 years? So I think that’s big European successes. In that sense, Manchester United is always there to compete in Europe. It’s what we want as well, and it starts again tomorrow.”

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Manchester United have made alterations to our UEFA Youth League squad, ahead of the second-round tie with Zalgiris.

The Reds hold a 5-2 lead from the first leg in Lithuania and are looking to complete the job tonight (Wednesday) in the 19:00 GMT kick-off at Leigh Sports Village.

Adam Lawrence’s side are competing for the right to meet either AZ Alkmaar or Stromsgodset in the next round, with the Dutch outfit 4-1 ahead.

Harry Amass, who has been involved with the senior squad of late, has been added to the group, and could feature at left-back.

Summer recruit Sekou Kone appears to be in line to make his European bow for the Reds, with Bendito Mantato also drafted into the squad.

Some of those on duty in Vilnius are not available but Lawrence has a strong 20-man list to choose from.

The game cannot be shown live on MUTV due to broadcasting restrictions but we will be covering the action on the United App, with highlights to follow.

UPDATED UEFA YOUTH LEAGUE SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Cameron Byrne-Hughes, William Murdock.

Defenders: Harry Amass, Tyler Fredricson, Louis Jackson, Jaydan Kamason, Godwill Kukonki, Reece Munro.

Midfielders: Zach Baumann, Jacob Devaney, Jack Fletcher, Jayce Fitzgerald, Sekou Kone.

Forwards: Gabriele Biancheri, Bendito Mantato, Ashton Missin, Victor Musa, James Scanlon, Ethan Wheatley, Ethan Williams.

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