Confirmed: Solskjaer's team to face AZ Alkmaar

The boss has made nine changes to the team from the one that beat Manchester City 2-1 on Saturday, with Axel Tuanzebe, Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic among those recalled to the starting XI.

Speaking to BT Sport ahead of the game, the boss explained the wholesale changes by admitting he wants to give some of our fringe players over the last few weeks the chance to impress him.

"Players are getting chances to get closer to the starting team,” Ole said. “We've had some good results in the Premier League in the last week with 12 or 13 players.

"There are more players here who want to be a part of it for the important games coming up.

"We want to win the group,” he added. “So, we want to win this game of football and it's a strong team. I think we've got a good squad and we'll need the squad in the next month with so many games.”

For our final group game of the Europa League, Ole has opted for Sergio Romero between the sticks. The Argentinian is one of three goalkeepers who have played for the Reds in the tournament this season and he has kept a clean sheet in all three of his European appearances in 2019/20.

In defence, Ashley Young has been selected at full-back and will captain the side, while youngster Brandon Williams is set to line up on the opposite flank.

Harry Maguire is one of two players to retain their places from Saturday’s Manchester derby victory and will partner Tuanzebe at the heart of defence.

Further up the pitch, Ole has handed Matic a first start since the beginning of October. The Serbian has been unavailable due to injury but will anchor the midfield against AZ.

James Garner will likely line up alongside Matic as he features in the Europa League for the fourth game in a row. Andreas Pereira has also been included after coming off the bench at the Etihad.

In the attacking areas, Juan Mata will start his fourth European game this season, while Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial will be looking to increase their Thursday-night goal tallies under the floodlights at Old Trafford.
 
THE TEAMS

United: Romero; Young (c), Tuanzebe, Maguire, Williams; Matic, Garner, Andreas; Mata, Martial, Greenwood.

Subs: Grant, Jones, Laird, Fred, McTominay, Chong, Rashford.

AZ Alkmaar: Bizot; Svensson, Claise, Wuytens, Wijndal; Midtsjo, Koopmeiners, De Wit; Sugawara, Stengs, Idrissi.

Subs: De Boer, Vlaar, Ouwejan, Druijf, Aboukhlal, Reijnders, Kramer.

The match kicks off at 20:00 GMT and you can follow live updates in ManUtd.com's Match Centre and in our Official App.