Man Utd youngster called up to first-team squad for Premier League game v Bournemouth

Erik ten Hag has called youngster Ethan Wheatley into the Manchester United squad for the trip to Bournemouth on Saturday.

The Red Devils head to the Vitality with up to nine players missing through injury and Ten Hag said in Friday’s press conference that Scott McTominay is expected to miss the game with a knock, while Marcus Rashford remains a doubt.

With Anthony Martial also missing and a lack of centre-forward options, ManchesterWorld understands that Wheatley has been selected in a senior set-up for the first time. The striker has impressed for the underage teams this season and has scored eight in seven Under-18 matches.

Those performances have earned him recognition at Under-21 level and Wheatley has played eight times for Travis Binnion’s side.

Wheatley, who signed a first senior contract earlier this season, is highly regarded at Old Trafford and has been capped at England underage level.

The attacker’s selection follows the inclusion of fellow youth-team prospects Harry Amass, Habeeb Ogunneye and Omari Forson in the squad that drew 2-2 against Liverpool last week.

United will need to take all three points on the south coast if they are to return to sixth place. Newcastle United’s 4-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in Saturday’s early kick-off saw the Magpies leapfrog Ten Hag’s side in the table.

Seventh-place United head into the game on the back of three matches without a win. Since returning from the March international break, the Red Devils drew against Brentford, suffered an injury-time defeat to Chelsea and last week earned a credible 2-2 draw with Liverpool.