Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

AZ Alkmaar v United: Our starting XI

Thursday 03 October 2019 16:40

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has handed Academy full-back Brandon Williams a first start for the Reds' UEFA Europa League trip to AZ Alkmaar.

The Norwegian has made eight changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Arsenal at Old Trafford on Monday evening, with David De Gea, Victor Lindelof and Daniel James the only players to remain in the starting XI.
 
Welsh international James plays in European club competition for the first time, having missed the victory over FC Astana on matchday one.
 
Elsewhere, the match-winner from that win over the Kazakhs, Mason Greenwood, also starts, two days after his 18th birthday. Greenwood's Academy colleague Williams made his first-team bow at left-back in the second half of the Carabao Cup match against Rochdale, and will reprise that role again in the Netherlands.

Asked what he likes about Williams' game, Ole said: "Almost everything. He’s got great mentality and has had a fantastic season, so far, in the Reserves and when he’s been up with us training. He’s never looked out of place. He came on against Rochdale and gave us energy last week. With the injuries we’ve had, it was an easy decision. He’s here on merit."

Youngsters Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams both start, having impressed against Rochdale.
United are without Paul Pogba for the match in The Hague, after Solskjaer confirmed the midfielder would require a period of rest due to an ankle problem.
 
De Gea starts in goal, with former AZ Alkmaar player Sergio Romero beginning the game on the substitutes' bench. The Argentinian won the Dutch domestic title, the Eredivisie, with AZ back in 2008/09, with the club then under the leadership of former United manager Louis van Gaal.
United's bench is a strong one, with England international Harry Maguire among the defensive reserves, while our Player of the Month for September, Scott McTominay, is also there, alongside Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford.
 
A win against Alkmaar will ensure United top Group L at the end of the evening, irrespective of the result in Kazakhstan, where FC Astana host Partizan Belgrade.

United: De Gea (c); Dalot, Lindelof, Rojo, Williams; Fred, Matic; Mata, Gomes, James; Greenwood. 
 
Subs: Romero, Tuanzebe, Maguire, McTominay, Lingard, Chong, Rashford.

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