Fernandez Carreras happy to make first United under-23 start

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Manchester United have taken an open approach with the group of young talent signed for the under-18s this summer.

If they are good enough, they will get chances at under-23 level too, especially with several players sent out on loan.

Joe Hugill has already stepped up and the 16-year-old striker now has three goals in two starts for the under-23s.

At the weekend summer signing from Real Madrid, Alvaro Fernandez Carreras was selected as a starter for United against Arsenal.

Fernandez has only one under-18 start to his name, an impressive one as United beat Burnley 5-0 last month. He was among the scorers.

He also featured in the EFL Trophy against Rochdale, a competition with an under-21 age cap.

United’s under-23 team often more closely resembles an under-18s team nowadays anyway, and this is providing younger players with a quicker pathway to be tested at a higher level.

The match was a spirited 3-3 draw, with Fernandez tasked with going up against Reiss Nelson, a 20-year-old winger with 40 first team appearances for Arsenal.

While Nelson scored one, Fernandez gave a good account of himself and w this was a good early test for him, in just the second month of his United career.

The 17-year-old is a bright talent for the future, one of many in the Red Devils ranks.

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