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>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<doc-sep>Valencia has not played for United since 2 January, in the 2-0 victory at Newcastle United, but he has been back in training in a bid to prove his fitness. “I spoke to Antonio yesterday,” revealed the manager. “He's not been fit the five or six months I've been here unfortunately. He's really struggled but he feels that he could play a part and I would hope that he gets through today and tomorrow and we could give him a nice send off, because he's been a fantastic servant to the club. ”He's been Player of the Year, he's been captain at the club and I think that's only fair. “ Jesse Lingard could return after being absent through injury while there are doubts over Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez and Anthony Martial. Eric Bailly is definitely sidelined with a knee problem, sustained in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Old Trafford.<doc-sep>
Four Manchester United youth stars could make their full debuts against Cardiff You'll never win anything with kids. On the final day of the Premier League season, looking up and down the Premier League table, it's very hard to find anything left to play before beyond the title. While Liverpool will welcome Wolves to Anfield, hoping for a huge favour from Brighton, there is very little still up for grabs elsewhere in the league. Crystal Palace and Bournemouth will play out the battle for 12th, Watford and West Ham likewise for 10th. Manchester United meanwhile find themselves at the bottom of The Big Six™️, with a top-four finish out of the question. Given their ongoing spell of bad form and the lack of anything riding on their fixture against already relegated Cardiff City, it has been reported that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could hand out four full debuts on Sunday afternoon. Tahith Chong, Mason Greenwood, James Garner and Angel Gomes could all start for United at Old Trafford against the Bluebirds, according to the Manchester Evening News. All four youth stars have made appearances off the bench this season, with Chong and Greenwood coming off the bench in United's comeback against Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes in March, but none have made a start. Given the extent to which Solskjaer's stock has fallen after United's dip in form that coincided with the club's decision to give him the job permanently, this could act as a reminder to his doubters that the Norwegian is United through and through. The club are rightly proud of their record of having an academy graduate in every matchday squad for the last 81 years, and starting four of them in the Premier League can only endear Solskjaer more to the fans.