Manchester United skipper Wayne Rooney has been left out of the 20 man squad to face Feyenoord in the Europa League. Apart from Rooney, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Luke Shaw are the other big names who did not make the cut.
United manager Jose Mourinho had earlier stated that Marcus Rashford would start Thursday night’s game and it remained to be seen whether it would be Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Wayne Rooney who made way for the youngster. Ultimately it is the Englishman who has been given the axe.
Also read: Europa League 2016-17: Bastian Schweinsteiger omitted from Manchester United's squad
Rooney was a part of the 23 that trained at the AON training complex earlier today but has been left out subsequently .
Mourinho has not given any reason for the English striker’s omission but after a dreadful derby day defeat at the hands of Manchester City, changes were expected to be made and Rooney’s omission should come as no surprise.
The 30-year-old has struggled for form ever since the middle of last season and after a disappointing EURO 2016 campaign , his form seems to still be in a downward trajectory
The Red Devils will also be without Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Luke Shaw, Antonio Valencia, and Jesse Lingard. Mkhitaryan, who has struggled ever since his arrival at England, sustained a niggle to his thigh and did not train. Shaw, on the other hand, had a light training session but was left out after complaining of a tight hamstring.
With the absence of several big names, Timothy Fosu Mensah could be given the nod along with Dutch winger Memphis Depay.
Meanwhile, 3 of United’s new signings, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Eric Bailly could all make their European debuts for the club.
United will be targeting Europa League success this time around but will first have to make it through a relatively tricky group featuring Feyenoord, Fenerbahce, and Zorya Luhansk. Victory in the competition, though, would see them become just the 4th football club to win all 3 European competitions after Ajax, Chelsea, and Juventus.
The 20 man Manchester United squad to face Feyenoord is given below:
Goalkeepers: David De Gea, Sergio Romero, Sam Johnstone
Defenders: Matteo Darmian, Eric Bailly, Daley Blind, Tim Fosu-Mensah, Marcos Rojo, Chris Smalling
Midfielders: Michael Carrick,Marouane Fellaini, Ander Herrera, Juan Mata, Memphis Depay, Paul Pogba, Morgan Schneiderlin, Ashely Young
Forwards: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford.
