Manchester United: 3 academy products who should feature this season

Share

Tweet

Share

Share

Email

Comments

Manchester United are famous for their youth development system. There won’t be many football fans around who aren’t acquainted with the Class of ’92. Legends of the game like Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Nicky Butt and even recent ones like Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard are all much-revered figures.

And the next generation of youngsters looks set to carry on the legacy. As Manchester United are on their pre-season tour in the United States of America and most of their senior players are vacationing post the World Cup, several products from Manchester United’s youth academy are out to make a name for themselves.




Jose Mourinho had this to say about United’s pre-season,

“It’s positive for the young boys that have the fantastic opportunity to train with us and know what it is to be a United player.”

So without further ado, let’s take a look at 3 academy products who should feature for Manchester United this season:

---

#3 Mason Greenwood

Now, this may be wishful thinking but Mason Greenwood, at the age of 16, is already climbing up the levels. While you could argue that he is too young to meddle with professionals of the game, you gotta understand that Mason Greenwood scored 17 goals in 17 matches for the club last season against opposition that was 2 years older than him.

After starting out wanting to be a midfielder, he slowly took over the no.10 spot before finally growing into the centre-forward position where he has flourished. Greenwood has represented the England u-17s.

A 16-year-old Greenwood was the league’s leading scorer in last year’s under 18 Premier League North. He also earned the player of the tournament award for his exploits.




Former United player and youth product Clayton Blackmore had this to say about the 16-year-old prodigy,

“We don’t know how good he is going to get. He’s still growing.

“He’s great on the ball and very good with both feet. He’s the first person I’ve seen that takes penalties and free-kicks with his wrong foot. I’ve never come across anyone like that! He’s got a great chance.”

#2 Angel Gomes

He was part of the England u-17 team that won the World Cup. And he is widely expected to shine for United in his professional career. He has already made 2 appearances for the senior team but is yet to be inducted into the team in a more fully realized role.

Rated as one of the most promising talents to pop out of United’s academy since the class of ’92, Gomes has the skill and the creativity to make up for his diminutive stature. In fact, his fluid movements across the pitch have led to comparisons being drawn between him and Ronaldinho.

Gomes plays as an attacking midfielder but can also be deployed on the wings. His low centre of gravity enables him to pull off nifty turns and gives him the ability to surprise defenders with a sudden change of pace.




Gomes is definitely one for the future and this could be the season where he leaves a few jaws on the floor.

#1 Tahith Chong

Tahith Chong was expected to impress for the senior team when he was afforded a chance and he did exactly that. In a boring set of 90 minutes played against Club America, every time the frizzy-haired Chong got the ball on the right-wing, the game got exciting.

He only played 30 minutes but that’s all the time the fans needed to feel optimistic about him. He also provided the cross which ended in Mata scoring United’s equalizer. What’s even better is that Tahith Chong’s doggedness was on display too as he tracked back to great effect and one can only imagine how happy Jose Mourinho would’ve been to see that.

Paul Scholes called him ‘matured and talented’. Chong, at 18-years-old, is in the right place at the right time and if he can burgeon into the player everyone fancies him to be, we’re in for quite a ride.