Man United have named a near full-strength side to take on Cardiff City at Old Trafford this afternoon, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side look to go out on a high this season. United don’t really have much to play for given the fact that they can no longer qualify for the Champions League this season, thus it’s understandable to see why Solskjaer has named the team that he has. Youngster Mason Greenwood has been handed a start by the Norwegian for today’s clash against Cardiff, meaning that he’s now become the youngest ever player to start a Premier League game for the club. ? Mason Greenwood becomes the youngest player to start a PL game for Man Utd 17 yrs, 223 days – Mason Greenwood 17 yrs, 253 days – Federico Macheda 18 yrs, 21 days – Phil Neville 18 yrs, 99 days – Timothy Fosu-Mensah 18 yrs, 127 days – Marcus Rashford pic.twitter.com/SXej6Lkypw — Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) May 12, 2019 The likes of Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard have also been handed starts by Solskjaer for today’s clash, as the Red Devils look to give their fans something to cheer about heading into the summer break. James Garner and Angel Gomes have been named on the bench by Solskjaer, and we can surely expect to see one of them get a few minutes of game time at least during the match today. The full line-up can be seen below. Any surprises you see in there? Let us know down below.<doc-sep>Get the latest United updates, transfer news and analysis delivered straight to your inbox every day for free Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Manchester United fans have reacted with delight at the sight of Mason Greenwood in the starting line-up to face Cardiff City. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer handed the 17-year-old striker a first United start for the final game of the season, with the vast majority of fans happy to see him included. Greenwood will become the youngest player to start a Premier League match for the Reds at 17 years and 223 days old. United's team for the Premier League season finale included six academy graduates, with two more in James Garner and Angel Gomes on the bench. Andreas Pereira, Marcus Rashford Scott McTominay, Jesse Lingard and Paul Pogba were the others. And United fans were very happy with the selection of Greenwood, who looks set to partner fellow homegrown star Rashford up front: However, there were some United supporters disappointed that more youngsters weren't selected by Solskjaer. Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Ashley Young have been divisive figures with some fans in recent weeks and there was a degree of bafflement why Tahith Chong was left out of the matchday squad of 18 after featuring against Huddersfield last week.<doc-sep>Get the latest United updates, transfer news and analysis delivered straight to your inbox every day for free Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Tahith Chong, Mason Greenwood, James Garner and Angel Gomes could make their full Manchester United debuts in their final game of the season against Cardiff. United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has included the quartet in his provisional squad for Sunday's game as United try to finish fifth and secure an automatic qualifying spot in next season's Europa League. Chong, 19, came on at Huddersfield last week and has played four times under Solskjaer since his career bow against Reading in the FA Cup back in January. Gomes, 18, made his first United appearance on the final day against Crystal Palace two years ago and has since cameoed in wins over Yeovil and Huddersfield. Garner, also 18, emerged as a late substitute at Palace in February but has not figured since. Greenwood, 17, came on late at Paris Saint-Germain in March, as well as in the league defeat at Arsenal and win over West Ham last month. Chong, Gomes, Garner and Greenwood all played during United's pre-season tour of the United States 10 months ago. Club captain Antonio Valencia also arrived with the squad at The Lowry Hotel on Saturday night and is poised to make his 339th and final United appearance after 10 years' service. Ander Herrera was not among the arrivals off the team coach after he finally confirmed he would leave the club on a free transfer. "You never know in football," Solskjaer said of his possible team selection. "It might be the last game [for some players] but it might be the start of some careers as well. We’ve had some young players knocking on the door all season really and we’ll start with one or two of the kids as well. "I’ve spoken to Antonio, he’s not been fit this five monhs I've been here, he’s really struggled but he feels he could part a part yes and we hope he can get through today and tomorrow and we can give him a nice send off. He’s been a fantastic servant to the club, player of the year, captain at the club and I think that’s only fair. (Image: Eamonn and James Clarke) "Ander might play, I don’t know yet. We haven’t picked the team and he’s probably going to announce himself later on where he’s going to continue his football." The Cardiff match will mark Mike Phelan's first as permanent United assistant manager since Sir Alex Ferguson's last game in charge at West Brom six years ago. Phelan returned to the club with Solskjaer on a part-time basis in December but his full-time appointment was confirmed on Friday after he expressed interest in the technical director role. "He’s fantastic at his job, assistant manager," Solskjaer added. "I’m very pleased they’ve finally agreed. When Ed rang me that was my first port of call to assist me and we’re here now for a few years together. "I’ve been a player under him, his knowledge, experience, demeanour, everyone in the club enjoys speaking to him, talking to him, discussing football with him, players really respect him, they know what he can do and he’s worked with the best. I’m a young manager and Mick has more experience than I do in a few areas. "That [United association] plays a big part in it. That’s the same when I brought Mark Dempsey with me, he’s a Man Utd man, Michael Carrick is a Man Utd man. We care about the club and it’s never going to be about anything else than the club. It’s not about me or Mick, it’s about getting the club back to where it belongs. "The club will announce [the technical director] when they feel they’ve found the right man. Until then we just work on the same structure we have now. I can say for me, Mick, we’ve been involved in loads of meetings about recruiting players and how we go forward. I’m happy with the communication and the targets we’ve put up and now hopefully we can get some over the line. United end their season a week before the FA Cup final and three weeks before the Champions League and Europa League finals. All of the other top six sides in the Premier League have a final to look forward to and Solskjaer is well aware of what a sobering finale Sunday proves to be for United as City and Liverpool vie for the title. "That says everything about the competitive league we’re in," he acknowledged. "It’s not like when I used to play that it was us or Arsenal that were going to win the league, then Chelsea came, now it’s a very competitive competition and we’re challenging against the best teams in the world for these trophies. "And, of course, that tells us that it’s going to be a great challenge. We want to get back to where we used to be, we know as a club, staff, the players know that next season we’ve got a great challenge ahead. "It’s going to be important we come together from the first day, pre-season is going to be important. I’m sure like Luke said last night we will make sure the supporters have something to cheer for us next year. "It's a big summer. There are players whose contracts have run out, some players will definitely come, there’s some young players coming in, I’ve worked with the club, recruitment, with the analysis department, we've identified some players we think will fit the Man United squad and let’s hope we can get some over the line. "It’s not easy, it’s never easy even if players come they’re at clubs. We’re not going to talk names, it’s not like you just go into the shop and choose because there are clubs as well. "I don’t know how many have been mentioned since I came in and there are players I’ve barely seen that I’ve read we’re going to sign. The earlier you can do the transfers, the better it is because when you come on July 1, you want to have a nice picture of what this team is going to be looking like. Manchester United squad vs Cardiff gallery "I can’t comment on every single individual. There are many players as I've said. I don’t like it when other managers talk about my players and I wouldn't talk about any others, even if I was or wasn't interested. "I think I’ve been quite honest that challenging for the title next year would be a miraculous season because we’re so far behind at the moment points wise. So next season, yes, we’ve got to close that gap. If we manage to get to February, March being close, that’s fantastic but if not this summer will also be about players who can last here for many years." Confirmed United squad members David de Gea, Sergio Romero, Lee Grant, Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young, Diogo Dalot, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Andreas Pereira, Fred, Paul Pogba, Scott McTominay, James Garner, Angel Gomes, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, Anthony Martial, Tahith Chong, Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood<doc-sep>
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has opted to leave out a number of senior players to make room for younger talent against Cardiff City. The Red Devils host the Bluebirds at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, in the final game of their 2018-19 campaign, which has been nothing short of a disaster. United are destined to finish the season without a trophy and outside the Premier League’s top four, missing out on entry to the Champions League. Solskjaer oversaw a superb run of results after succeeding Jose Mourinho in the hot seat on an interim basis back in December, but since his permanent appointment in March, results have taken a turn for the worst. Against relegated Cardiff this weekend, the Norwegian is planning to blood a few academy stars, after leaving nine senior players out of his final squad. Metro Sport reports that Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic, Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo, Matteo Darmian, Ander Herrera, Victor Lindelof, Alex Sanchez and Eric Bailly have all been left out, with a young contingent drafted in to replace them. Mason Greenwood, Tahith Chong, Angel Gomes and James Garner have all been granted a spot in Solskjaer’s final 21 and the United boss confirmed he plans to field a much-changed starting XI. As per Metro Sport, he stated in a pre-match press conference: “It might be the last game [for some players] but it might be the start of some careers as well,’ said the United boss. “We’ve had some young players knocking on the door all season really and we’ll start with one or two of the kids as well.’ Herrera will miss out on a farewell appearance, having announced he will leave the club this summer, while Shaw’s omission may also come as a surprise to supporters after he scooped the club’s Player of the Year award during the week. Lindelof has been granted a deserved early rest, but the six remaining outcasts may all be facing uncertain summers after a disappointing year. Surprisingly, Anthony Martial earned a spot in the squad despite his poor recent form, while more will be expected from Pogba after a shocking dip in his recent performances. Nothing less than a win will do for United against Cardiff, with fifth place still up for grabs and fans will hope to get a glimpse of the next generation of talent ahead of an uncertain period at the club in the coming months. Full Man United squad to face Cardiff City: David de Gea, Sergio Romero, Lee Grant, Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young, Diogo Dalot, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling Andreas Pereira, Fred, Paul Pogba, Scott McTominay, James Garner, Angel Gomes, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, Anthony Martial, Tahith Chong, Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood