Malacia scores on Under-21s return as future remains in doubt

Tyrell Malacia made a scoring return for Manchester United Under-21s as his Old Trafford future remains uncertain.

The defender netted the first in Monday's 4-1 win over Wolves in Telford before coming off at half time.

Malacia scored from close range in first-half stoppage time after Wolves goalkeeper Alfie Brooks spilled Jack Fletcher's free kick.

Former midfielder Michael Carrick, who made 463 appearances for the club, is due to replace the sacked Ruben Amorim until the end of the season but it remains to be seen if Malacia is in his plans.

The 26-year-old is the final member of last summer's 'bomb squad' still at United after Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Antony left.

Former manager Ruben Amorim banished them from first-team training and they were told they could not access United's Carrington training ground - unless for rehabilitation and medical purposes - until Amorim and his squad had left for the day.

Between them, Antony, Sancho and Malacia cost the club more than £167m while Rashford came through the club's academy and Garnacho joined from Atletico Madrid as a 16-year-old.

Malacia has outlasted Amorim as he was sacked by United after 14 months in charge earlier this month.

He signed from Feyenoord for £13m in 2022 and has made 48 appearances for United, although just 16 starts in the Premier League.

He was included in Amorim's Premier League squad and made his first senior appearance since January as a late substitute against Newcastle last month, having spent the second half of last season on loan at PSV.

After he scored on Monday, Chido Obi's brace and Gabriele Biancheri's deflected effort eased United to victory and leave them top of Premier League 2 with eight wins from nine games.