Man Utd have included 18-year-old wonderkid Gabriele Biancheri in their squad for the first time ahead of their Europa League quarter-final second leg against Lyon as Joshua Zirkzee is ruled out for the rest of the season

The 40-year-old Red Devils manager, Ruben Amorim, was getting his team ready for Thursday night’s pivotal Europa League quarterfinal second leg against Lyon when Gabriele Biancheri, a teenager for Manchester United, entered his first team training earlier today.

Joshua Zirkzee, who was sidelined for the rest of the season due to a hamstring injury, will not play for Manchester United.

Gabriele Biancheri of Manchester United in a training session.

The only senior center-forward available to Amorim for tomorrow night’s crucial match against Lyon is Rasmus Hojlund.

Biancheri assisted with first team training at Carrington while Zirkzee was away.

In February 2023, the 18-year-old left Cardiff to join Manchester United.

Biancheri has been free scoring for the Red Devils’ academy sides this season, hitting 20 goals in 30 appearances across the PL2, Under-18 Premier League, Uefa Youth League, FA Youth Cup and EFL Trophy.

The Welshman is not part of Man Utd’s 25-man roster for the Europa League.

Manchester United soccer players training in the rain.

However, he is qualified to be placed on the team’s B List, which would allow him to play tomorrow night.

A player must have played with the team for two or more consecutive years and have been born on or after January 1, 2003, in order to be included on the B List.

Chido Obi, another striker, is not eligible, but Biancheri is.

The attacker, who has made four first team appearances for United, does not meet the B List requirements because he only signed from Arsenal in September.

Gabriele Biancheri of Manchester United in training.

Biancheri has never been included in a matchday roster for the first team.

Biancheri needs to be added to Man Utd’s B List by midnight in order to play in tomorrow night’s match.

Before the second leg in Lyon, Amorim provided an update on Zirkzee’s injury.

“Joshua is out for the season,” the Portuguese stated. He will therefore not be playing any more this season. Let’s get him ready for the next one.

Soccer player helped off the pitch with an injury.

“It’s difficult, particularly right now. It’s difficult for any player to stop him, in my opinion, because he’s getting better at every facet of the game, but because this is football, he needs to be prepared to rebound right away.”

Amorim also announced that Andre Onana, who was given the weekend off due to his mistakes in last week’s 2-2 tie in France, would be going back in goal.