Who is Dan Gore? Manchester United youngster named in Europa League squad vs FC Porto

Dan Gore has been named in the Manchester United squad for their trip to FC Porto in the Europa League.

The 20-year-old midfielder has been selected as part of Erik ten Hag's 23-man contingent for their second game in this season's new league phase format after last Wednesday night's 1-1 draw with FC Twente. United took the lead through Christian Eriksen but were pegged back in the second half as Sam Lammers equalised to ensure the points were shared; meaning United sit 20th in the standings going into tonight's match.

There are no real surprises in Ten Hag's squad to face Porto, apart from Gore, with Mason Mount missing out after suffering a head injury during the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday afternoon. Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Toby Collyer, Kobbie Mainoo, Eriksen and Manuel Ugarte are the other midfielders in the fold.

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Gore could now make his European debut for United after travelling with the team to Estadio do Dragao. But who exactly is he? Having spent seven years at Burnley, Gore joined United in 2018, aged 14. He then progressed through the youth system at Old Trafford before becoming a mainstay in the club's Under 18s set-up.

Gore, alongside Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, helped United pick up the prestigious FA Youth Cup in May 2022, playing 90 minutes in a 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest in the final. Over 67,000 fans were present at Old Trafford to watch the next generation come out on top and win the highly-thought of trophy for the 11th time.

During the following campaign, Gore was promoted to the club's Under-21s side and he ended playing 18 times in Premier League 2 as well as making his EFL Trophy debut. The Prestwich-born star, who can play in central midfield and off the left wing, scored twice and added three assists in 2022/223.

As a reward for his performances for the U21s, Gore was then named in a United first-team squad for the first time against Forest in August 2023. Although he stayed an unused substitute, it was an invaluable experience for Gore, who would go on to make his senior debut off the substitutes bench against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup. He came on for the final 26 minutes as United ran out 3-0 winners.

Gore made one further first-team appearance - a one-minute cameo against Aston Villa in the Premier League in December 2023 - before making his loan move to League One side Port Vale. However, Gore then suffered a quad injury on his debut against Portsmouth and returned to United for treatment.

As well as that, Gore underwent surgery on a dislocated shoulder in June and made his return to action earlier this month for United U21s. He played in an EFL Trophy match at Doncaster, before providing an assist in a 5-3 win over Norwich last Friday night.

Gore started, and captained, the U21s against Hertha Berlin on Tuesday night - and played just over an hour in that game. He has now travelled with the first-team to Porto.

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