Confirmed XI: United XI chosen by Amorim in clash against Bilbao! Casemiro, Ugarte, Fernandes, Garnacho & Hojlund to start? Mount & Amad on the bench?

Manchester United return to UEFA Europa League football on Thursday evening at Old Trafford as they welcome Athletic Club for the semi final second leg clash with United 3-0 up on aggregate from the first leg last week at San Memes with Casemiro opening the scoring and Bruno Fernandes scoring a brace – one from the penalty spot.

United need to reach the final of the Europa League this season and win it if they want to play in the UEFA Champions League next season – failing that will mean no European football for the club next season. United showed their determination in reaching the final this season after their display in Spain last week.

United 4-3 defeat to Brentford in the Premier League on Sunday shows that United can still score the goals and has kept them in the same form they were in last week, which bodes well for the club at this time. Ruben Amorim will want this team to achieve this season, which will be a morale booster for next season after this abject season.

Manchester United

Onana;

Lindelof, Maguire, Yoro;

Mazraoui, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dorgu;

Garnacho, Fernandes;

Hojlund

Substitutes

Bayindir, Heaton; Shaw, Amass, Fredricson, Kamason; Mount, Eriksen, Mainoo, Mantato; Amad

Athletic Club

Agirrezabala;

Gorosabel, Alvarez, Nunez, Berchiche;

Jauregizar, Galarreta;

Djalo, Gomez, Berenguer;

Sannadi

Substitutes

Simon, De Marcos, Paredes, Vesga, Adama, Olabarrieta, Rego, Varela, Guruzeta, Lekue, Prados, Canales

United and Bilbao have played five times in the history of both clubs and United have lost three times, wining twice, which was an aggregate victory back in 1957 and last week’s clash. Prior to last week, the two sides met more than 13 years ago with United losing both legs in the Europa League, exiting the competition.

Amorim will need to keep his team fresh for the Europa League with United not able to achieve anything in the Premier League this season looking set to have their worst season in the top flight since the Premier League era began. United’s concentration on the Europa League is what needs to be done. They need to win it.

United’s 3-0 victory over Bilbao last week at San Memes will have boosted United massively for the return leg at Old Trafford. That said, the 4-3 defeat to Brentford on Sunday will have done the same with United scoring six goals in their last two matches, which shows the confidence the squad has ahead of this important match.

Written by Paul