Man Utd add 17-year-old academy talent to Europa League squad

Manchester United have added 17-year-old midfielder Jayce Fitzgerald to their Europa League 'B' list following recent domestic selections by interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The 'B' list allows clubs to use an uncapped number of home-grown players under the age of 21 in UEFA competitions, with those who fall into that category not needing to be on the limited 'A' list.

Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo are both on this season’s 'B' list, although 17-year-old left-back Harry Amass had to go on the 'A' list because he only joined the club in 2023 - the requirement for 'B' list inclusion is two uninterrupted years since the age of 15.

Fitzgerald started this season with United's Under-18 squad but was drafted into the first team by Van Nistelrooy and has featured on the bench for both of the Dutchman's game in charge so far.

The versatile youngster could now keep his place for a third successive fixture for Thursday night's visit of PAOK to Old Trafford. Were he to make his debut, Fitzgerald would become the club's 252nd academy graduate to feature in a first-team game.

Ethan Wheatley was the milestone 250th towards the end of last season, while Toby Collyer was the most recent home-grown debutant when he came off the bench in the Community Shield in August.

Jack Fletcher, the son of United legend Darren, is another academy youngster hoping to make his first-team bow after recent experiences with the senior matchday squad. The 17-year-old has been an unused substitute for the last three Premier League games for Erik ten Hag and Van Nistelrooy, as well as against Leicester City in the Carabao Cup. The day before the Chelsea game, he scored and assisted in 45 minutes in a Premier League 2 defeat at the hands of Sunderland.

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