MANCHESTER United's women footballers have been targeted by supporters wanting them to back Mason Greenwood's return.
Stars preparing for England's semi-final tomorrow against hosts Australia at the Women's World Cup have been put under pressure as the club continues to deliberate over the suspended striker's future.
Greenwood, 21, hasn't played for the first team since being arrested for attempted rape, assault and coercive control last January.
The charges against him were dropped in February but the footballer remains suspended by United, despite recent talk suggesting a possible return from their head coach Erik ten Hag.
Members of Manchester United Women's team have reportedly raised concerns about the prospect of Greenwood returning to the training ground.
And protests against his possible return were staged outside United's opening match of the season against Wolverhampton Wanderers last night at Old Trafford.
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Now players on United's women's team have received messages from Greenwood fans urging them to back his return.
Among those contacted are England internationals currently in Australia on Women's World Cup duty – Mary Earps, Ella Toone and club captain Katie Zelem.
They have been targeted in responses from Greenwood fans to social media posts by United celebrating their involvement in England's 2-1 quarter-final victory over Colombia last Saturday.
The messages were seen by players, according to The Athletic.
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An Instagram post by United hailing their three Lionesses for reaching the semi-final was bombarded with comments urging them to support Greenwood in returning to action/
It was previously revealed United's Lionesses would be among those players consulted over what to do about Greenwood.
One female fan outside Monday night's Premier League opener at Old Trafford held an expletive-laden poster blasting the club's refusal so far to rule out a comeback by Greenwood.
It read: "Don't leave the decision up to the women's team, you spineless, motherless f***s."
A group called Female Fans Against Mason Greenwood's Return have called on United to never let him play again, saying: "We are calling on the club to do the right thing.
"For their fans, for their employees, for the millions of young boys and girls across the world who look up to our players as heroes and role models – and the millions of women whose lives have been blighted by violence and abuse.
"To the decision-makers at the club, remember; this goes beyond football.
"This decision is a reflection of you, your morals; of who you are as individuals, and as humans.
"Will you stand with abusers, or with the abused? History will judge your choices. Make sure you choose well.
"We female fans of Man United are demanding that the club abide by their duty of care towards their female fans and employees.
"Demonstrate a zero tolerance approach towards acts of violence against women by refusing to bring Mason Greenwood back into the squad."
The Sun exclusively revealed that top-level discussions about a possible return are nearly concluded, while Greenwood has the backing of his teammates as well as his manager ten Hag.
However, he suffered a major blow to his hopes as he was excluded from the team's provisional squad list.
Greenwood was last week seen practising his skills at public training grounds rather than his club's base at Carrington.
He was joined there by Ben Mangan, who describes himself as an "individual professional football coach".
Greenwood was given his England debut by manager Gareth Southgate as a late substitute against Iceland in September 2020, though has not played for the country since.
Two days after the Iceland game he and Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden were withdrawn from the squad for breaching Covid guidelines by leaving the part of the hotel where they were staying.
The Sun revealed earlier this summer former United boss Jose Mourinho had telephoned Greenwood to sound him out about a loan to Italian Serie A side Roma.
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United are said to have had contact with other Italian teams Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan about potential moves.
Bradford-born Greenwood has scored 35 goals in 129 appearances for Manchester United, having joined the club as a six-year-old.
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