All you need to know about Manchester United's Tom Thorpe and Patrick McNair

Paddy McNair and Tom Thorpe

Manchester United’s injury problems have forced manager Louis van Gaal to look to the youth to fill in the gaps at the back.

Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans are out while another young centre-half Tyler Blackett is suspended prompting the Dutchman to include Tom Thorpe and Paddy McNair in the squad to face West Ham United at Old Trafford.

“They are in the squad. That is always why we have a youth education. It was also our policy [to utilise the youth squads] and always the policy of the club too.” van Gaal said.

Here is a picture of them training ahead of the big day on Saturday.

PIC: The next generation. Tom Thorpe, Andreas Pereira and Paddy McNair during Friday's first-team training. pic.twitter.com/pH8qatNSlk

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 26, 2014

Tom Thorpe

The 21-year-old has been a regular United’s reserves and Under-21 team for the past three seasons and is now the captain of the Reserves’s side.

He joined United in July 2009 as a first year scholar after making 6 appearances for the U-18 side in the 2008-09 season.

He signed his first professional contract in 2010 and got his first taste of Reserves’s action in November that year. He simultaneously won the FA Youth Cup as captain of the side beating Sheffield United 6–3 on aggregate in the two-legged final.

He came closest to a first team spot when he was named on the bench for the League Cup third round match against Leeds United on 20 September. He was given the number 39 jersey for the match, but did not take the field. He became permanent captain of the Reserve’s side at the beginning of the 2012-13 season and won the inaugural U-21 league.

Thorpe's won a nomination for the Denzil Haroun Reserve Team Player of the Year Award though he ultimately finished in third behind Januzaj and fellow defender Marnick Vermijl.

The big break for him came when Birmingham City got him on loan along with fellow defender Tyler Blackett though he was injured just 14 minutes into his debut and was stretchered off.

Another loan spell followed but he returned to Manchester after the recurrence of his ankle injury. He has also played a holding midfield role.

He has been capped at every level from Under-16 to Under-21 for England, Thorpe boosted his experience with a six game spell on loan at Birmingham last season.

According to United’s official website, Thorpe is ‘assured and composed on the ball and a good passer. He is capable of bringing the ball out of defence and also offers an aerial threat from set-pieces in the opposition box.’

The site also describes him as a “A lifelong Reds supporter, whose father used to take him to Old Trafford to watch matches as a child, he has been itching for an opportunity to make a first-team debut”

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Paddy McNair

Initially arriving from the from Ballyclare Colts as a midfielder in 2011, the then 17-year-old had to play at centre-half alongside Liam Grimshaw.

Coach McGuinness has said that the 19-year-old’s best position will probably not be pinpointed for another couple of years though he is likely to grow into a defensive midfield role.

McNair was selected to play for United in their UEFA Youth League campaign last season, but was sent off after getting two yellow cards against Bayer Leverkusen.

Despite his youthful promise, McNair’s lack of experience could force van Gaal to delay his senior elevation unless circumstances dictate an earlier than planned introduction to the first-team.

Described as someone with “composure and ability to handle one-on-one situations”, he may revert to a holding midfield role this season.

He made his Northern Ireland Under 21 debut earlier this month, and played as a midfielder in a 4-1 defeat to Serbia.