Jose Mourinho to hand Scott McTominay and Axel Tuanzebe first-team chances in coming weeks
The United boss suggests his respect for senior players may have denied them chances this season.
Jose Mourinho admits he has overlooked promising young Manchester United duo Scott McTominay and Axel Tuanzebe this season because he feels more comfortable turning to more senior members of his squad.
McTominay, 21, has made five appearances in all competitions so far this campaign with Tuanzebe, who broke into the first-team at the back-end of last season amid a string of injury problems, featuring just twice.
United will be playing their third game in eight days when they host Bournemouth on Wednesday (13 December) – the first of seven matches taking place from now until 1 January. December's frantic fixture schedule will likely see Mourinho rotate his squad in the coming weeks, with McTominay and Tuanzebe two players set to benefit from that.
Neither youngster has played in the Premier League yet this term, but Mourinho has suggested chances will be handed down in the coming weeks.
"I have faith in them," the manager told MUTV. "Honestly, sometimes, I don't play them more because I have respect for some of the older players that are great professionals and are always ready for the team.
"But, in terms of their qualities, McTominay and Tuanzebe are ready, they are ready to play so I played them with 25, 30 minutes to go against CSKA [Moscow]. I played Scott against Benfica when we had not even yet qualified. I have lots of faith in both of them."
McTominay, who has been at the club since the age of five, signed a new four-year deal at Old Trafford earlier this month, starting and completing games against Benfica and Swansea City in the Champions League and Carabao Cup during a period where his manager's central midfield options were limited through injury.
20-year-old Tuanzebe also started in the 2-0 win over Paul Clement's side, slotting in at his natural position at centre-half. The England Under-20 international has already proven his versatility to Mourinho, however, starting as both a defensive midfielder and a right-back towards the end of the 2016-17 season.
