Who is Willy Kambwala? Man Utd starlet, 19, with ZERO career appearances named on bench for crunch Liverpool clash

WILLY KAMBWALA has sneaked into Manchester United’s match-day squad for the first time – on one of the biggest stages possible.

The giant defender, 19, was named on the bench for Sunday’s Premier League visit to leaders and fierce rivals Liverpool.

Willy Kambwala was out injured for 11 months at one stageRex

So who is the starlet who was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and captained France Under-16?

Ironically, Liverpool were also linked with the centre-back three years ago.

But in the end United won the £3.5million race to sign him from Sochaux on transfer deadline day in October 2020.

Kambwala’s French club were devastated to lose their main asset – offering him professional terms to stay.

But the lure of a Prem giant was always likely to win out.

And so it proved, as Kambwala switched to Old Trafford and was set to be integrated into United’s junior sides.

But an injury suffered in a friendly against Salford kept him out for 11 months.

Kambwala, now 6ft 4ins, returned in September 2021.

And what a return it was – as his first game back was an 8-2 victory for United‘s Under-18s against Birmingham.

Kambwala signed a pro deal with the Red Devils a month later.

And now he’s closer than ever to a taste of senior action – with a place on the bench at Anfield.

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