Young: Red Devils must adapt to early kick-off

Ashley Young has warned his Manchester United team-mates that they must be sharp right from minute one despite the early kick-off against Middlesbrough on Sunday.

The game at the Riverside Stadium, which kicks off at midday, rounds off a busy week for United, who lost 1-0 at Chelsea in the quarter finals of the FA Cup on Monday before securing their place in the last eight of the Europa League by defeating FC Rostov 1-0 on Thursday.

It also comes just three days after Boro boss Aitor Karanka departed the Teessiders by mutual consent, meaning Steve Agnew will be in caretaker charge of the hosts.

(Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

And Young knows they must adapt to the unusual start time in order to keep pace with the Premier League’s top four going into the international break.

Young said: “I think it’s different for each individual. Some players like playing early, some players don’t.

“If we are playing early, you’ve got to factor in the travelling we’ve had since last week. It’s just been travelling non-stop. I think we’ve been in more hotels than we’ve been at home!

“It’s one of those things, you’ve just got to get your head around it and prepare again in the right ways. When you’re kicking off at 12 o’clock, you’ve got to be mentally prepared at the start of the game and make sure you’re right.

“I’m more than confident that we’ll go into the game full of confidence and looking to take three points up there.”