18 goals and assists in 17 games, Man Utd wonderkid breaking Ruben Amorim’s first-team door after another brilliant game

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Manchester United’s senior team might be in a pattern of “one step forward, two steps back” but the academy is thriving with potential superstars.

Man Utd U18s faced West Ham U18s in the U18 Premier League Cup quarterfinal and unfortunately missed out on progression after a loss on penalties.

The score was 2-2 after extra time but United missed two penalties after initially going into the lead which will hurt the youngsters but there were plenty of positives.

Most prominent of them was the continued ascent of James Scanlon, who will have forced Ruben Amorim to take notice after another talismanic performance.

James Scanlon thrives vs West Ham U18s

Scanlon is not the average academy player because he’s someone who’s already got plenty of international experience, playing for, and breaking records for Gibraltar’s senior team.

Against West Ham, he lined up on the right side of a 4-2-3-1 and regularly drifted inside as he tries to add more skills to his bow, generally being on the left.

He constantly found space between the lines and played progressive passes, with his clinical finish in the 51st minute off of Tyler Fletcher’s brilliant pass being United’s equaliser to make it 2-2.

The goal took to 18 goals and assists in 17 games across all competitions this season, continuing a remarkable run of form for the 18-year-old versatile attacker who is quickly becoming impossible to ignore.

Scanlon also dispatched his penalty in the shootout with supreme confidence which spoke of a player who’s feeling at the top of his game.

A promotion to the U21s should beckon soon, and it will be fully deserved.

James Scanlon fits in Ruben Amorim’s system perfectly

With the senior team’s attacking depth decimated after multiple departures and only Joshua Zirkzee as the sole arrival, there are places to be won by youngsters in good form.

Scanlon has an upper hand in the competition for places because of his multi-faceted skill set as well as his ability to play with both feet.

He can play across the front line so he can be fielded in either of the No. 10 spots behind the striker in Amorim’s setup with the senior team.

Scanlon works hard and unlike most of his teammates at the youth level, comes with the experience of playing against senior professionals without ever going out on loan.

With United not having much to play for in the Premier League, Scanlon will be good value for minutes in the senior team if he can translate his form to the U21s and take it from there.