Manchester United chief Ed Woodward has hailed the club's supporters ahead of Wednesday's clash with Sheffield United at Old Trafford.

It will be the first time United play at home without any fans in attendance, having played away against Spurs last week.

"As a club, we say 'thank you' through the 'United for the Heroes' banner displayed in the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand, as well as the NHS logo on the players' shirts," Woodward said.

"You will also see powerful anti-racism messages, on the players' shirts and in the stands, and we are proud to be uniting with our players and the rest of the Premier League behind this crucial cause.

"Diversity, inclusion and the fight against racism are at the core of our values as a club whose support spans racial and cultural boundaries. This has been a long-standing commitment from the club, as part of our All Red All Equal campaign and our support for groups such as Kick It Out.

"The breadth and diversity of our fan base is demonstrated by over 40,000 supporters from 193 countries who submitted their pictures for the spectacular fan mosaic, which will be on show in the stands for the first time tonight. We hope the mosaic will provide inspiration to the team as a reminder of the hundreds of millions cheering them on from home.

"As a banner in the Stretford End tonight declares, quoting Sir Matt Busby, 'football is nothing without fans,' and we can't wait for you to return to Old Trafford as soon as it is safe to do so."