Manchester United have added Anthony Elanga to their Europa League squad.
UEFA rules allow clubs to add homegrown stars to their B list for the competition, and Manchester United opted to register young striker Elanga this week.
United take on Granada in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday and Elanga is illegible to be part of the squad.
Elanga, 18, won the prestigious Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award at United last season and has been impressing behind the scenes at Old Trafford for some time.
The teenager is a key player in Neil Wood’s Under 23s Manchester United side and has scored six in 12 games in the league and two in four in the EFL Trophy.
(Image: PA)
United’s U21s beat Salford City 6-1 in September and Elanga was on the scoresheet in the route.
Gary Neville was watching the action as co-commentator and conceded the striker would be a “nightmare to play against”.
The former United captain also compared the young forward to Arsenal legend Thierry Henry after he beat his man for pace and scored by bending the ball around the keeper and into the far corner of the net.
(Image: Getty Images)
Manchester United hope that Elanga will follow in the footsteps of academy graduate Mason Greenwood and be knocking on the door of the first team in the coming seasons.
The fact that he has been called up to the Red Devils’ Europa League squad suggests he’s on the right track.
