MANCHESTER UNITED promoted Ethan Laird to first-team training ahead of the clash with Bournemouth.

Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is without centre-backs Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe due to injuries.

And with the pair both unavailable – Tuanzebe until next season – the Norwegian has turned to the club's youth set-up to bolster the training squad.

Laird, however, is not expected to feature in Saturday's game with Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly all ready for selection.

Solskjaer told the club wesbite ahead of the weekend's game: “Of course there are a couple of knocks.

“You do start feeling things now after a little bit, so there might be a couple of changes but let’s see today.

"The boys who didn’t play on Tuesday want to play and are ready to step in if they have to.

“Phil and Axel will still be out for a little while. It’ll be a few weeks before Phil can start training and Axel, we won’t probably see until September.

"Ethan is going to join the training group now.”

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Laird, 18, joined the United academy as a nine-year-old, signed his first pro contract in 2018 and and has England caps at U17, U18 and U19 level.

Laird played the full 90 minutes in the 2-1 defeat away at Astana in the Europa League in November for his senior debut and then came on against AZ Alkmaar in December.

He signed a new contract in February to tie him down at Manchester United until the summer of 2023 – although the club have the option to extend that by a further 12 months.

United go into the clash with Bournemouth on a 15-match unbeaten run and know victory at Old Trafford would se them move into the top four – with Chelsea kicking off later against Watford.

Bournemouth have been in disarray since the season restarted, losing all three matches, scoring one and conceding seven.

The Cherries go into the game 19th in the Premier League table, one point adrift of safety with six matches to go.

Their last win came at home to Aston Villa on February 2 and they will also be without top-scorer Callum Wilson who is supnded.

Eddie Howe can take some inspiration into the game, though, after his side won the reverse match at Dean Court 1-0 back in November.

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