Phil Jones is LEFT OUT of Manchester United’s 25-man squad for the Europa League group stages
Phil Jones has been left out of Manchester United‘s Europa League squad on the back of being kicked out of the training ground dressing room to make space for the summer signings.
Out-of-favour centre-back Jones has not been named in Erik ten Hag‘s 25-man squad for the group-stage matches along with young left-back Brandon Williams.
The 30-year-old has started just twice in the last two years for United and has been unavailable for selection since pre-season due to injury.
Phil Jones (pictured) has been left out of Manchester United’s 25-man Europa League squad
Third choice left-back Brandon Williams (pictured) has also been left out of the United squad
Jones is in the final year of his United contract and is well down the pecking order in defensive options.
The former England international is behind the likes of Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Axel Tuanzebe and Teden Mengi.
Williams, 22, also misses out on being named in the squad due to injury while Axel Tuanzebe and Facundo Pellistri are both included despite being currently sidelined.
New United boss Erik ten Hag has selected his squad, leaving out both Jones and Williams
This is just another set-back for Jones, who signed a new four-year contract with the Red Devils in 2019, as he has been kicked out of the training ground dressing room according to recent reports.
United’s first-team training facility at Carrington is designed to accommodate no more than 24 players and has been at maximum capacity following Manchester United’s summer spending spree.
Jones is one of the casualties of United’s dressing room clear out, marking another blow in his ill-fated career at Old Trafford.
United boss Ten Hag made six new additions this summer including left-back Tyrell Malacia
Third-choice left-back Brandon Williams, 20-year-old Teden Mengi and fellow centre-half Axel Tuanzebe have also been told to pack their bags and move down the corridor to the under-23 changing room.
Former Ajax head coach Ten Hag made six new additions to the Red Devils’ squad this summer following his appointment in April.
Room at Carrington has squeezed since the arrivals of playmaker Christian Eriksen, ex-Real Madrid star Casemiro, goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, left-back Tyrell Malacia and former Ajax pair Antony and Lisandro Martinez.
The Red Devils also splashed £85million on Ajax winger Antony who scored on his debut
Jones’ dressing room snub reveals how far away the 30-year-old is from Ten Hag’s first-team plans, having struggled to carve out regular minutes in recent seasons.
The former England international has only played 13 times for Manchester United in his last four campaigns at the club and made his first appearance in two years in January as the Red Devils lost 1-0 to Wolves.
United’s opening group game will be against LaLiga side Real Sociedad at Old Trafford on Thursday.
They have also been drawn with Cypriot side Omonia FC and Moldovan outfit FC Sheriff.