With Manchester United's squad ravaged by injury in what's already been a difficult campaign, they will have to pack their bench this afternoon with players from the academy.
Following Saturday's night's news that joint top-scorer Amad -- a rare bright spark amid the gloom -- could miss the rest of the season, United face an injury crisis going into today's game away to Tottenham Hotspur (kick-off 4.30pm GMT; 11:30am ET), who have also seen the injuries pile up.
Amad joins Kobbie Mainoo -- who is expected to be out for more than a fortnight -- on the treatment table, while midfielders Manuel Ugarte and Toby Collyer are also absent. Lisandro Martinez is expected to miss the rest of the season with an ACL injury, while the likes of Luke Shaw, Jonny Evans and Mason Mount are still unavailable for selection.
With United's preparations for the Tottenham game already derailed by their injuries as well as illness which has ruled out Christian Eriksen and Leny Yoro, there was further disruption last night when they had to travel by bus to London after trains were cancelled due to a signal failure on the West Coast Main Line.
Yet, as the injuries mount up for Ruben Amorim's side, it does at least provide an opportunity for their young talent to gain experience with the first-team match squad.
The Athletic gives the lowdown on those expected to be involved this afternoon...
A name that will already be familiar to most given his extraordinary goalscoring record in the Under-18 Premier League and after United prised him away from Arsenal in the summer.
Born and raised in Denmark, Chido started out playing for Kjobenhavns Boldklub, Copenhagen's academy feeder club. His family, including brother Chukwuemeka, moved to the UK as his mother wanted to study to become a nurse, The Athletic previously reported.
Shortly after relocating, he was spotted playing in Hackney aged 13 and signed by Arsenal, where his electric performances and goalscoring feats created a real buzz.
In November 2023, aged 15, he scored 10 goals in a 14-3 win over Liverpool Under-16s. He finished with 32 goals in 18 games for Arsenal's under-18s, an all-time record at that level, despite being younger than most of his opponents.
His incredible talent put him on the radar of Europe's biggest clubs and Arsenal were left frustrated when he departed to join United in the summer following the end of his schoolboy terms.
He signed his first professional contract with United -- a generous financial package was a factor in him joining -- when he turned 17 in October. That month, he scored a hat-trick in the first 15 minutes of his debut for United's under-18s against Nottingham Forest. He also scored a hat-trick against Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup on Wednesday.
It seems only a matter of time before the 17-year-old makes his mark on the first team.
Amass, 17, signed for United in the summer of 2023 from Watford, where he'd started out as a nine-year-old. A regular for Watford's under-18s, he was named on the bench for their first team in an FA Cup third-round match when he was just 15.
The left-back was recruited by United after being spotted by Stephen Ajewole, who scouts the south of England for the club.
After joining United, he caught the eye with his performances in their under-18 side and was called up to train with the first team following injuries to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.
He was included in United's first-team squad for the first time against Liverpool in April 2024, while he has represented England from under-15 to under-18 level.
Amass impressed during United's pre-season tour of the U.S. this summer, setting up a goal for Amad against Real Betis. His natural inclination to get forward has drawn comparisons with Shaw.
"On the ball, I am comfortable," he told reporters in the summer. "I like to dribble a lot, I like to take on players, I like to excite the fans, play exciting football. On the ball, in build-up, ain't a problem. Off the ball, you've got work hard, make sure you're at it 100 per cent."
Amass said he was ready to grab his opportunity when it came.
"I've got to take it with both hands. It could change my career," he said. "I am just waiting for that moment. I am ready."
A defensive midfielder, Kone joined United from Malian side Guidars FC in August last year in a deal worth just over £1million ($1.26m).
Kone, who turned 19 a fortnight ago, first attracted United's attention with his impressive performances at the Under-17 World Cup in Indonesia at the end of 2023, in which Mali finished third, beating Argentina 3-0 in the third place play-off.
United followed that up by then watching him at an under-18 tournament in Morocco in April 2024, where he was a standout player, and a recommendation was made to sign him the next month.
He is viewed by United as a long-term option for the No 6 position -- with the club working on building up his fitness and physicality.
Speaking last month after a 3-1 defeat to FC Nordsjaelland, under-21s lead coach Travis Binnion told the club's website: "He's a good player (and) he's going to be a really good player. He's still getting to grips with the language, the intensity, the positional stuff, and his own fitness.
"In time, he's got to be everywhere on the pitch and finding it easy physically at this level. That's the challenge of where we've got to get to and we will get there. He will get there."
This afternoon will be the first time Moorhouse, 19, has been included in United's first-team squad.
A strong ball-carrier from midfield with elegant poise, Moorhouse made his debut for United's under-18s as a 15-year-old.
He missed more than a year out through injury but marked his return, 431 days later, as a substitute against Norwich City for the under-21s in late September 2024.
He was outstanding for United's under-21s in their 5-1 victory over Southampton in December, scoring twice, watched on by Amorim, technical director Jason Wilcox, first-team coach Darren Fletcher and head of academy Neil Cox, at the Carrington training centre.
Speaking after the game, United's under-21s assistant coach Dave Hughes told the club's website: "Special mention really for Jack Moorhouse, who has had a period of time where he's been injured but we're managing to increase his minutes week-by-week. Some of his play was really, really exciting, so we're really pleased for him."
His performances saw him nominated for the Premier League 2 player of the month in December.
He scored a terrific individual goal last week for United's under-21s, against Spurs, in a 2-0 victory, as well scoring in United's 5-0 victory over Oldham under-21s at the end of January in the National League Cup.
Harrison, 18, joined United in the summer of 2022 from Stevenage.
He won the Denzil Haroun reserve team player of the year award last season, only the second goalkeeper (after Kevin Pilkington) to win it since its inception in 1990, as he helped United's under-18s to a Premier League North and Premier League Cup double.
Harrison spent the first half of this season on loan to Chester, in the National League North, where he made 18 appearances and kept seven clean sheets. Chester manager Calum McIntyre told the non-League side's website that Harrison had been "superb" and showcased his "immense ability" during his time there.
After being recalled by United, he was named as an unused substitute for the first team during the 2-0 defeat at home to Crystal Palace at the start of February.
Harrison, an excellent shot-stopper who is comfortable with the ball at his feet, has represented England at youth level but is also eligible to play for South Africa.
Son of United coach Darren, attacking midfielder Fletcher joined their academy from rivals Manchester City in 2023, along with his twin brother Tyler. He signed his first professional contract in April last year, shortly after his 17th birthday.
Fletcher has been in fine form for United's under-21s this season, with two goals and three assists in five Premier League 2 matches. He was outstanding in United's 5-2 FA Youth Cup fourth-round victory over Preston, as well as the 5-1 thumping over Chelsea in the following round last week, where he set up James Scanlon with a sumptuous assist on the half-volley.
He was called up to the first-team squad for three successive matches -- against Brentford, West Ham and Chelsea -- earlier this season, but was an unused sub on every occasion.
Fletcher has played for England at youth level (he also played three games for Scotland's under-16 side) where he has come up against his twin, who has represented Scotland.
Centre-back Fredricson, 19, grew up in south Manchester and played a crucial role in the United Under-18s' FA Youth Cup final success in 2022 -- albeit he missed the final against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford due to a sickness bug.
That year, he was named on the bench for the first team in a Europa League match against Real Sociedad in September, a few months after signing his first professional contract with the club.
This season, Fredricson, who has also represented England at under-18 level, has been a key figure in United's under-21 side, leading the team out as captain.