Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has promoted 18-year-old Ethan Laird to the senior squad and he is training with the Manchester United first team ahead of their clash with Bournemouth.
With Axel Tuanzebe likely to be out for the season and Phil Jones still not available, the door may open for the highly-rated right-back prospect to show what he can do on the big stage.
But what do we know about Laird?
We’ve seen Laird before
While he is still awaiting his Premier League debut, Laird has made two senior appearances for United, both in the Europa League against Astana and AZ Alkmaar.
Laird’s Old Trafford bow came against Alkmaar as Solskjaer took advantage of the game being a dead rubber.
On the whole he rose the occasion and put in a calm and authoritative performance.
Three Lions heartbreak
Laird has already had his share of misery in an England shirt, putting him ahead of the curve in terms of his development.
He was an important part of England’s run in the 2018 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, but he missed the semi-final clash with the Netherlands due to suspension after picking up a booking in the quarter against Norway.
The talented youngster could only watch as his teammates lost on penalties to the Netherlands.
Laird could be injury prone
Possibly the biggest concern for United fans will be whether injuries stop Laird showing his full promise.
He picked up a hamstring injury just two months after signing his first professional contract during Manchester United U-19s’ 6-2 win over Young Boys.
Laird was sidelined again earlier in the season with another hamstring problem after August’s EFL Trophy encounter with Reading.
In interviews Laird has admitted that injuries have got him down, but that he is getting better at dealing with them.
United fans can only keep their fingers crossed that he remains fit and can take any opportunity and run with it.
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