Why Garnacho, Mainoo and Hojlund are not in Manchester United's 25-man Premier League squad list

Manchester United have confirmed their 25-man squad for the Premier League season

Manchester United have confirmed their 25-man squad for the Premier League season and at first viewing there are one or two eye-catching absentees.

After the transfer window closes, clubs are required to submit an updated squad to the governing body - including any changes made to shirt numbers. United have submitted theirs along with all other top-flight clubs.

Reds youngsters such as Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo and £73million signing Rasmus Hojlund were not named on the main list. But rest assured the trio will be able to play for United in the league this term.

That's because Premier League guidelines offer clubs scope when it comes to younger players. As well as naming their 25-man squad for senior players, teams are allowed to submit a supplementary list of Under-21s who can also feature and because of their age don't need to be included in the official list.

In their primary list, clubs must name up to 25 players but cannot include more than 17 non-homegrown players on their respective lists. United are comfortably inside the limit in that respect.

As for the Under-21 list, players named must have been born on or after January 1, 2002 to be eligible. This applied to Garnacho, Mainoo and Hojlund but Uruguay winger Facundo Pellistri - added to the main list - was born 12 days before the cut-off for youngsters.

The confirmed 25-man squad (*denotes homegrown players)

Goalkeepers: Onana, Bayindir, Heaton*.

Defenders: Lindelof, Maguire*, Martinez, Malacia, Reguilon, Varane, Dalot, Shaw*, Wan-Bissaka*, Evans*.

Midfielders: Amrabat, Mount*, Fernandes, Eriksen, Casemiro, Van de Beek, McTominay*.

Forwards: Pellistri, Martial, Rashford*, Antony, Sancho*.

U21 players who didn't need to be registered: Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo, Rasmus Hojlund, Hannibal Mejbri, Amad Diallo, Dan Gore, Omari Forson, Shola Shoretire.