Off we go in a bitterly chilly Nur-Sultan.

Image source, Getty Images

Astana have lost their past six Europa League games by an aggregate score of 1-17.

Only Luxembourg's Dudelange (15) have conceded more goals in this season's competition than Astana (14).

Krishan Korpal: Lee Grant at 36 is giving this portly 30 year old tax accountant hope. Maybe I can still play for Man United.

Image source, Getty Images

Aged 36 years and 305 days old, Lee Grant is the oldest ever player to make his debut in major European competition for Manchester United.

Francis Edwards: Manchester United youth reserve XI and Jesse Lingard is at the forefront. He really does rank alongside Jack Wilshere in the over hyped XI.

Manchester United

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tells MUTV: "I enjoyed training with them yesterday, I enjoyed the trip with them and it is a group that has been together a long time so for them they know it is the next step.

"We also have some experience in there with Axel Tuanzebe, Jesse Lingard, Lee Grant and Luke Shaw so for the kids it is a great occasion.

"We struggle to give them enough games against men and today we are playing against men, an experienced and physical team in front of 30,000 people. It will be a great education for them."

One name stands out in Manchester United's squad for their Europa League trip to Astana on Thursday.

Defender Max Taylor has never played a first-team game for United. The local-born 19-year-old is another example of manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's commitment to the club's youth.

Yet for Taylor, it is the latest stage in a remarkable story of resilience and mental fortitude after being diagnosed with testicular cancer in November 2018.

"If anything, it has increased my ambition," Taylor tells BBC Sport. "I take things head on. Just go for it. Don't be scared."

Read the full piece

A 7,400 mile round trip from Manchester to Kazakhstan.

Image source, Google Maps

It's -15C but these hardcore fans have made the journey across.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard will captain the Red Devils tonight for the first time in Astana.

Image source, Manchester Evening News

Looking at how much luggage he has packed for the trip, is he planning on staying in Kazakhstan permanently?

Image source, Getty Images

With Manchester United having already qualified for the last 32, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer elected to take a large number of youth players to Astana for the penultimate group game.

As a consequence, the entire starting XI is different to the one that began in the 3-3 draw at Sheffield United.

Forward Mason Greenwood, who came on to score against the Blades, starts while Jesse Lingard and Axel Tuanzebe who were also substitutes on Sunday also earn a spot in the team.

Nine of the starting XI have come through United's academy, while the subs bench features another academy player, Max Taylor, who is back playing after receiving cancer treatment.

According to the United website, , externalthe average age of the team is 21.6 years, while the outfield average is 20.2.

Man Utd XI: Grant; Laird, Tuanzebe, Bernard, Shaw; Garner, Levitt, Lingard; Gomes, Chong, Greenwood

Astana XI: Eric; Rukavina, Logvinenko, Postnikov, Shomko; Maevski, Sigurjonsson; Beysebekov, Rotariu, Murtazayev; Khizhnichenko

Image source, Getty Images

There is a perfectly reasonable explanation as to why this game kicks off at the unusual time of 15:50 GMT.

Kazakhstan is six hours ahead of the UK, which means it will be 9:50pm locally and the match could finish tomorrow.

Image source, Getty Images

Not often that we have a game on when we're at work...and so are YOU!

Are you having to hide from your boss to follow the Astana-Man Utd game?

Let me know on Twitter using #bbcfootball, external or text in on 81111 (UK only).

A total of 48 games to be played today, from Arsenal to Astana and Lugano to Lisbon.

Here are the British teams in action:

Astana v Man Utd (15:50)

Sporting Braga v Wolves (17:55)

Feyenoord v Rangers (17:55)

Celtic v Rennes (20:00)

Arsenal v Eintracht Frankfurt (20:00)

Full fixture list can be found here

Image source, Getty Images

Inside Uefa's last meeting...

Person 1: "That's it guys, thanks for coming and we will meet again in a couple of months...

...sorry, sorry. Just sit down again, we have one final thing left on the agenda to discuss and that is the kick-off time for Astana v Manchester United.

Person 2: (jokingly) "Why not have it at 10 to 4 on the Thursday? Haha."

Person 1: "BRILLIANT!"

Person 2: "No, no, I was only jo..."

Person 1: "See you all down the pub."