Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has described the decision to take a Manchester United youth team to Kazakhstan to face Astana as “common sense” as he singled out teenage cancer victim Max Taylor for individual praise.

Taylor only returned to action with the Under-23s last month after an eight-month battle to recover from testicular cancer which had spread to other parts of his body.

And with United expected to name their youngest ever side for a European fixture against Astana, Solskjaer insisted this was the perfect chance for them to play a proper competitive game “against men.”

Solskjaer confirmed that defenders Di'Shon Bernard (19), Ethan Laird (18) and midfielder Dylan Levitt (19)will make their senior debuts, but others, including Taylor, will be involved.

“It's a fantastic story to see him coming back,” said Solskjaer. “I met Max very early after I got the job and to have seen his journey back to full fitness and the way he's conducted himself, it's something he'll always have with him.

“He's been through something no one should have to go through, but he's come through the other end.