Many Man United fans were shocked to see the club's Under-21 coach Tom Huddlestone alongside senior squad members during Monday's training session.
Huddlestone’s role sees him work with the youth team, acting as a player-coach, a practice used by many clubs to help get their top prospects ready for first-team football.
First arriving at the club in the summer of 2022, the Englishman is now in his second season where as well as coaching, he can play as an over-age player.
However, United was so depleted in midfield that Huddlestone was drafted into first-team training on Monday.
The United players who started against Liverpool in the goalless draw on Sunday had a recovery session, so Sofyan Amrabat, Kobbie Mainoo and Scott McTominay were absent from the session.
Huddlestone was not the only strange face at Carrington that day. Several young players were involved too.
The Red Devils visit West Ham on Saturday.
