Sam Johnstone's Manchester United Future in Doubt After First-Team Photo Omission

Manchester United youngster Sam Johnstone has hinted he is considering his options ahead of a possible move away from Old Trafford.

The 21-year-old goalkeeper featured for the club during their pre-season tour but it would appear he has failed to convince manager Louis van Gaal of a place in the Dutchman's squad.

Ben Amos and Anders Lindegaard have both been selected as David de Gea's understudies in the opening games of the season while Johnstone has been recovering from an elbow injury.

However, the England Under-20 international has since been left out of the club's official first-team photo, which was revealed on 16 September.

Shortly after the unveiling of the team photo, Johnstone tweeted:

Other notable absentees from the team photo were striker Will Keane and Reece James, despite the latter featuring frequently under Van Gaal during the summer. Youngsters Andreas Pereira, James Wilson and Jesse Lingard were included.

It had appeared Johnstone was in Van Gaal's reckoning when he named the goalkeeper as one of nine ongoing injury concerns during a press conference on 12 September.

He was also handed a starting role for the club during their pre-season campaign of the United States in the first half of the 3-2 win over Roma.

Ahead of United's 4-0 victory against Queens Park Rangers on 14 September, Van Gaal revealed the goalkeeper had been suffering from an elbow problem in recent weeks.

The Dutchman named Amos as his understudy goalkeeper in the first three league games of the season and in the 4-0 Capital One Cup defeat to MK Dons, with Lindegaard named as a substitute in the win over Harry Redknapp's west London side.

Johnstone joined United's academy in 2010 and has had spells out on loan to Scunthorpe United, Walsall, Yeovil Town and Doncaster Rovers during the past three years.

While the closure of the transfer window ensures a permanent move is not an option until January, Johnstone could still leave the club on an emergency loan. The window, which opened on 9 September and closes on 27 November, allows Football League clubs to make further additions to their teams.