Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen has pulled out of the matchday squad to face Leicester City later tonight due to an injury, according to Academy Scoop.
The young midfielder was set to start for the under-21s, but received a late call-up after Eriksen became unavailable.
Assistant manager Ruud van Nistelrooy has been placed in charge of the team on an interim basis, and he will be looking to win tonight as the Red Devils look to advance to the quarterfinal of the Carabao Cup.
Man United are back in Premier League action on Sunday when they host Chelsea, and Van Nistelrooy could look to field a starting XI of experienced players and youngsters.
Fitzgerald's Rise
Manchester United academy star Jayce Fitzgerald will be hoping to make his senior debut against Leicester City in the Carabao Cup. The 17-year-old has made eight appearances this season for the under-18s in a variety of positions with it clear he has impressed enough to be included in a first-team matchday squad.
A Versatile Talent
According to United's club website, Fitzgerald grew up in Salford and has been part of United's academy since he was a child. He has also already made 44 appearances for United's youth team.
For the majority of his first few appearances, Fitzgerald was deployed in midfield but he is also capable of playing in defence. United under-18s manager Adam Lawrence has been utilising him in the latter for the opening weeks of the 2024/25 campaign.
The young Reds have won all eight of their league games so far this season with Fitzgerald making three appearances as a centre-back, two as an attacking midfielder, with one at right-back and central midfield, according to transfermarkt. Versatility is now something every manager looks for and Fitzgerald certainly possess that quality. As evidenced by the four positions he has already played in, the England under-17 international could be a huge asset going forward for United as he is on a similar path to Barcelona legend Sergio Busquets. The Spaniard spent early parts of his career playing as a centre-back, like Fitzgerald is currently doing, though the preference of both was to play in midfield. Given the illustrious career Busquets had at the top level, United will be hoping taking this step in his development will be key especially with injuries plaguing him recently.
A Chance for Fitzgerald
Interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy is facing a number of decisions, with it likely to be his only game in charge following the departure of Erik ten Hag and imminent arrival of Ruben Amorim from Sporting CP. With Christian Eriksen pulling out of the squad because of injury, a chance has emerged for Fitzgerald.
In the previous round, Toby Collyer was the only youngster to appear and he played the full 90 minutes of the 7-0 thrashing of Barnsley, however that could change this evening. Alongside Fitzgerald, Jack Fletcher and Harry Amass have also been spotted arriving at Old Trafford.
Van Nistelrooy's Task
The match is set to be the first one for the team since Erik ten Hag’s sacking on Monday and as United work to get the appointment of Ruben Amorim over the line, Van Nistelrooy will be in charge. The former striker is set to be without a number of injured players including Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro and Mason Mount. According to X reporter Academy Scoop, who is known to have inside connections to the Red Devils, Eriksen has also pulled out from the matchday squad to face Steve Cooper’s men.
So far this term, Eriksen has made 11 appearances for the Red Devils across all competitions. He has been one of the side’s better players during a tumultuous period, registering an impressive four goals and three assists.
The experience will be good for young Fitzgerald, who has been at United since his childhood. The 17-year-old was among those pictured arriving at Old Trafford in the hours ahead of kick-off. He is not the only teenager named in the squad. Rich Fay of Manchester World points out that Jack Fletcher and Harry Amass are also in Van Nistelrooy’s provisional squad.
A New Era
With the arrival of Ruben Amorim, Manchester United is embarking on a new era. However, the club is facing a number of challenges. The most pressing issue is the team's injury crisis. The Red Devils are currently without a number of key players, including Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro and Mason Mount. Now, with Christian Eriksen also ruled out, van Nistelrooy will have to be creative in his team selection.
Fitzgerald's potential debut is a sign of the club's commitment to youth development. The 17-year-old is a promising talent and could be a valuable asset to the first team in the future. However, it remains to be seen whether he will be able to make an impact in his first senior appearance.
The match against Leicester City is a crucial one for Manchester United. The Red Devils are looking to advance to the quarterfinal of the Carabao Cup and will be hoping to get back to winning ways after a disappointing start to the season. With van Nistelrooy in charge, the team will be looking to put in a strong performance and show the club's fans that they are ready for the new era under Amorim.
