Manchester United have wildcard striker option for Europa League tie

It might have been a frustrating Saturday in front of goal for Manchester United but for Adam Lawrence's Under-18s it was another day when the youngsters couldn't stop scoring.

After winning a treble last season the U-18s have picked up where they left off with four wins from four in the U18 Premier League so far this term. After back-to-back 2-0 wins against Manchester City and Liverpool, Lawrence's youngsters have now stuck nine past Newcastle and Middlesbrough in successive weeks.

Since the start of last season they have lost two of their last 28 league fixtures, scoring 91 goals in the process. This season 18-year-old forward Gabriele Binacheri has been filling his boots and he now has eight goals in five games for the U-18s, as well as a strike for Travis Binnion's U-21s in Premier League 2.

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The former Cardiff City youngster, who joined United in 2023, now has 17 goals and three assists in 27 games for the U-18s, as well as three in five for the U-21s. As helpful as he is proving to be for Lawrence's side, a promotion is surely incoming.

He was an unused substitute in the thrilling EFL Trophy win at Barnsley back in August, with Ethan Wheatley playing the 90 minutes and Wheatley is the striker closer to the first-team picture. He is likely to be in the squad to face FC Twente again on Wednesday.

If Wheatley is included in that squad - and United can name 12 substitutes for a Europa League tie so it would make sense - then perhaps Biancheri will get his chance to lead the line at Doncaster in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night. But