Ashley Young has said he’s willing to replace the injured Wayne Rooney and play as a striker, should he be asked to do so by Louis Van Gaal.
United face PSV Eindhoven in Holland on Tuesday, as they return to the Champions League after a season-long absence but they will be without their injured captain for the second consecutive game.
With Marouane Fellaini clearly not suited to fill the gap left by Rooney, Van Gaal could turn to Anthony Martial, who marked his United debut with a superb finish on Saturday against Liverpool, and James Wilson, who has surprisingly been included in the squad that traveled to Eindhoven.
However, Young has suggested he would be willing to play up-front, given United face a shortage of options in the area.
“If the manager wants me to play there then yes, of course I would,” Young said.
“I can play in lots of positions and I have done that under the manager, whether it is up front or in midfield. Hopefully I can play there [through the middle] but it’s up to the manager.”
Van Gaal has never publicly hinted at playing Young up-front, but the former Aston Villa man revealed he has spoken to him about it.
“He has said it to me before, but it is down to him,” he said.
“He has that headache of picking the team, so rather him than me.”
Having forced his way into the starting XI last season, Young’s only start this season so far came against Tottenham Hotspur in the first Premier League game of the season.
However, with United having to juggle more games than last season, Young remains confident his opportunity will come.
“It has [been a while] and every player in the squad wants to be in the starting XI and I am not different,” he said.
“I want to play as much as I can, but when I am called from the bench as I was against Liverpool, I just want to show the manager that I am ready and willing to give 100%.”
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