Ole Gunnar Solskjaer called cancer survivor Max Taylor an inspiration to the entire team after naming the teenage defender as part of Manchester United’s callow squad for the mammoth trip to Kazakhstan.
Thursday’s Europa League clash with Astana is the furthest the club have ever travelled for a European tie, with the 6,000-mile round trip compounded by temperatures that are dipping below -12 degrees Celsius in Nur-Sultan.
It will be warmer inside the roofed Astana Arena, but with qualification to the round of 32 already assured, Solskjaer is using the Group L encounter as a chance to give experienced players minutes and prospects a taste of first-team football.
This would be an unusual trip even for an inexperienced group given the six-hour time difference, travel time and climate, but Solskjaer is seeing the positives at a frantic time in the season.
“We are ready for the game, we had good travel yesterday,” he said, having left the bulk of his squad at home preparing for Sunday’s Premier League clash against Aston Villa.
“Of course, the time difference and distance of flight gives us a challenge, but we’re trying to make the best possible outcome out of this.
“So, the travel has been fantastic, we’re staying UK time, so if you see some of the players walking around tonight that’s because we’re still on UK time. We’re looking forward to the game.
“I’ve been walking around a bit in the weather that makes me feel like home.”
