Manchester United have included 19-year-old defender Max Taylor in their Europa League squad just 12 months after having chemotheraphy for testicular cancer.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side travel to the Kazakhstan capital to face Astana on Thursday with qualification to the round of 32 already assured. And Taylor is one of a number of youngsters to make the trip.
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Taylor only returned to training with United in September following his treatment.
“I feel immensely proud and happy to be back on the training pitch with my teammates and friends,” Taylor to United’s website at the time. “Without the invaluable support of my family, teammates and, of course, the nurses and doctors, my return to training at this stage would not have been possible.
“I want to thank all of the club’s medical and sports-science staff that I have worked with throughout my rehabilitation.
“The next step is to continue working hard in the gym, and out on the grass, to hopefully make my return on the pitch.”
United beat Astana 1-0 in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford with Mason Greenwood scoring the only goal.
ESPN FC correspondent Rob Dawson contributed to this report