Manchester United's U23 squad will head off to a warm-weather training camp in Portugal at the start of February, where they will play a friendly with Benfica.
United have been trying to arrange prestigious friendlies against European opposition for their youth sides this season, and they beat AC Milan in December at Leigh Sports Village.
Now, Neil Wood will take his youngsters to Portugal for some training in warmer temperatures, before facing Benfica at the Caxia Futebol Campus on Monday February 10.
United describe the trip as an opportunity to recharge batteries of their young squad, with intensive training and team bonding also planned.
Head coach Wood said: “We're going to Portugal at the start of February for some warm-weather training. It's a chance to reboot and go over some of the work we did in pre-season and kind of take it to the run-in up until May.
"We'll just refocus really and there is a probability some of the young lads will come up with us, some of the lads who will move up next season, as it will give us a good chance to work with them.
“It's something we've not really done at this level much in the past. We went to Scotland last year but this time it's something we feel is right for them. We're doing it properly, it's not just holiday time and relaxation. It will be a working training camp and we'll play a game out there against Benfica as well.”
United have also announced a friendly with Club Brugge in Belgium, to take place before the senior teams meet in the Europa League on Thursday 20 February.
Then, Chelsea will visit Leigh Sports Village on Chelsea Friday 6 March for a friendly.
In terms of Premier League 2 fixtures, United travel to Norwich before the Portugal trip on Friday January 31, before taking on Swansea on Friday Feburary 14. They then travel to Stoke on Monday March 2, and host Middlesbrough on Monday March 16.