Athletic Club name 24-man squad
Athletic Club have announced a 24-man travelling squad as they prepare for the Europa League semi-final second leg against Manchester United.
The Basque side, trailing 3-0 from the first game in Bilbao last week, are set to be backed by almost 4,000 away fans in what promises to be a special occasion at Old Trafford on Thursday night, with the action kicking off at 20:00 BST.
Ernesto Valverde and his players are due to arrive in England on Wednesday afternoon, before the coach hosts a press conference in order to explain his selection.
There is big news as both of the Williams brothers are absent. The exciting forwards will be a big miss for Athletic Club, as Nico has failed to overcome groin issues that have dogged him recently, while Inaki has picked up a hamstring strain and failed to recover.
Top scorer Oihan Sancet has been battling hard to return in this huge contest but has run out of time and will be unable to contribute at this stage of the competition.
Defender Dani Vivian is out through suspension, after the red card he received in Bilbao for fouling Rasmus Hojlund, although the experienced Oscar De Marcos and Unai Gomez have shrugged off fitness worries.
Aingeru Olabarrieta, Iker Varela and Alejandro Rego have been added to the squad.
"If they could have been here, they would have been here," Valverde said at his press conference at Old Trafford, when asked about the high-profile absentees. "It's as simple as that because this is the most important game of the season. So they would have been here if they'd been fit.
"You can only put players in the side who are 100 per cent fit. I would have loved to have them in the squad and it's a real miss but they can't be here so there is no point thinking about them. We are a team and a squad over the whole season and have got to make do with it and struggle with the injuries we have got.
"They are key injuries but we focus on the ones who are here and can make a difference."
Ruben: We know how Athletic will adapt
ArticleAmorim analyses Thursday's visitors with several key absentees, read it all in his press conference transcript.
ATHLETIC CLUB'S SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Julen Agirrezabala, Unai Simon, Mikel Santos.
Defenders: Yeray Alvarez, Yuri Berchiche, Adama Boiro, Oscar De Marcos, Andoni Gorosabel, Inigo Lekue, Unai Nunez, Aitor Parades.
Midfielders: Peio Canales, Mikel Jauregizar, Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Unai Gomez, Benat Prados, Alejandro Rego, Iker Varela, Mikel Vesga.
Forwards: Alex Berenguer, Alvaro Djalo, Gorka Guruzeta, Aingeru Olabarrieta, Maroan Sannadi.