Manchester United vs Astana: Mason Greenwood and Axel Tuanzebe to start Europa League opener

Greenwood and Tuanzebe likely to be joined by other academy players

Mason Greenwood and Axel Tuanzebe are set to start Manchester United’s Europa League opener against Astana as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer turns to youth in Europe.

Greenwood will make the second United start of his career on Thursday night, while Tuanzebe returns to the line-up for the first time in more than two years.

United will be without Daniel James, who suffered a knock in Saturday’s 1-0 Premier League win over Leicester City and did not train with the first-team squad at Carrington on Wednesday morning.

James joins Paul Pogba, Luke Shaw and Anthony Martial on the sidelines but will not risk be Solskjaer, who wants to use the Europa League to blood through United’s academy talents.

“[Tuanzebe’s] going to start,” Solskjaer confirmed at his pre-match press conference. “I have a big squad. Now’s a chance for some to get minutes.

“We’ll have a game every three or four days and there’ll be some young ones. Greenwood will play definitely, first start since Cardiff last year, and he needs game time.”

“It’s a process,” Solskjaer added. ”It’s for them to grow as players and human beings, and being robust enough to go out at Old Trafford.

“You’ve got to get results and if you don’t throw them in you don’t know what you’ve got. I don’t see any other way of doing this, I’ve always done it wherever I’ve been. That’s my belief as a coach: to give a chance, an opportunity.”

Greenwood became the youngest United player to represent the club in Europe since Norman Whiteside in March, when he appeared as a substitute in the famous 3-1 victory over Pairs Saint-Germain.

“He’s still very young but he’s been maturing in the last six months since I came in," Solskjaer said regarding the young striker, who only turns 18-years-old next month.

“I remember the kid who just wanted to play with mates in the U18s, and now he’s knocking on the door and his appetite for football must be growing.

“I just don’t want to put too much pressure on him. Go out there, enjoy yourself, work hard and make the right finish. He’s one of the best finishers I’ve seen.”

Though United’s treatment room remains busy, Diogo Dalot and Jesse Lingard are available to Solskjaer once again after recovering from a hip injury and illness respectively.

Fred is likely to feature, with Solskjaer hoping that the £52m signing can rejuvenate his United career after a difficult first year at the club.

“He’s been patient, working hard. He’s not a young boy but he’s still young in his English career and hopefully he will kick start his season tomorrow.

“We’ll see more and more of Fred. He’s had some great games in midfield with Scott against PSG and Arsenal, and we’re just waiting for that to flourish.”