United’s bench vs Everton will have several changes as three academy youngsters set for Chelsea U21 clash – report

Manchester United’s bench for the game against Everton on Saturday will bear a very different look if recent reports are to be believed.

A major injury crisis ahead of the Tottenham Hotspur game meant Ruben Amorim was without Manuel Ugarte, Toby Collyer, Kobbie Mainoo and Christian Eriksen in midfield while Leny Yoro missed out in defence.

In addition, Amad suffered a season-ending injury to join Lisandro Martinez on the sidelines. The situation was so bad that the head coach was forced to select eight academy youngsters in the matchday squad for the club’s trip to North London.

Chido Obi ended up making his debut, becoming the 252nd academy graduate to make the step-up to the first team.

Youthful bench last time out

The others who had a watching brief included Sekou Kone, Jack Fletcher, Jack Moorhouse, Harry Amass, Tyler Fredricson, and Elyh Harrison.

Eriksen is already back in training while Amorim confirmed that Ugarte and Yoro are also expected to be fit for Saturday’s clash at Goodison Park.

EXC: Understand Harry Amass, Jack Moorhouse and Jack Fletcher are all with the U21s tonight away at Chelsea.

All three were on the first team bench at Spurs but a reshuffle is due at Everton tomorrow.

James Scanlon and Gabe Biancheri have also travelled with the 21s #mufc

— Nathan Salt (@NathSalt1) February 21, 2025

As a result, Amorim will not need to call up as many academy graduates with The Daily Mail journalist Nathan Salt confirming that Amass, Moorhouse and Fletcher have been called up for Friday’s U21 clash against Chelsea instead.

James Scanlon, whose exclusion for last Sunday’s squad had raised eyebrows among staff, will miss out again as he will also face the Blues instead.

Will not be the case vs Everton on Saturday

“Understand Harry Amass, Jack Moorhouse and Jack Fletcher are all with the U21s tonight away at Chelsea,” Salt wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

“All three were on the first team bench at Spurs but a reshuffle is due at Everton tomorrow. James Scanlon and Gabe Biancheri have also travelled with the 21s.”

This means Chido Obi will remain with the first-team as will Kone, who has impressed the Portuguese tactician and a debut is expected sometime this season.

Whether anybody else makes the bench for Saturday’s game remains to be seen.

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