Hugill message to Maguire suggests healthy competition between United’s young strikers

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Charlie McNeill can’t stop scoring and was on target this week for Manchester United in the FA Youth Cup.

McNeill’s goal was his 15th in all competitions this season for the under-18s, in 14 games.

Young teammate Joe Hugill replied to McNeill’s message on Instagram which expressed how pleased he was to score again.

Hugill remarked, ‘You’re joking me not another one’, in reference to McNeill’s latest strike.

It was an indication of a healthy growing rivalry between the two young Manchester United academy forwards.

Hugill has 16 goals, just one more than McNeill. The difference is 10 of Hugill’s have come at under-23 level and six for the under-18s.

If Hugill had played the whole season in the under-18s he probably would have a lot more by now. McNeill’s numbers are very impressive nonetheless.

There isn’t too much difference between United’s under-23s and under-18s sides too, with the 23s made up of players largely in the 17-19 age range.

McNeill even made his debut for the 23s last month as a late substitute.

It is really healthy from United’s point of view to have the two 17-year-olds pushing each other on, and trying to outscore each other.

Hugill did not play in the Youth Cup third round although he was eligible.

There’s a chance he could feature in the fourth round if Liverpool beat Sutton United to set up a clash between the two north west clubs.

Hugill dropped down to the under-18s for last weekend’s league win over Liverpool to partner McNeill, who grabbed the winner in a 1-0 victory.

Both players are likely to finish the season on 20 goals plus at the current rate, which would be quite an achievement in each of their first seasons at the club since arriving in the academy last summer.

At the moment they seem to be in a race to see who can get their first.

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