Manchester United manager Michael Carrick was in the Kassam Stadium stands on Wednesday for the FA Youth Cup, and he will have seen exactly why Jim Thwaites should be the next man up.
Back from injury in recent weeks, Jim Thwaites has immediately settled back in and is playing so well for Manchester United.
Thwaites started as United beat Oxford United 4-1 in the FA Youth Cup fifth round, claiming a place in the quarter-finals.
There were several top performers, with Thwaites one of the standout players, all while Michael Carrick observed from the stands.
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Jim Thwaites’ corner-taking ability can take Manchester United set-piece record to next level
United had a very comfortable night to claim a place in the last eight, with JJ Gabriel arguably the man of the match as he demonstrated his evolution as a player, but if Carrick was watching with plans to promote someone immediately, Thwaites would have caught the eye.
Thwaites dictated play and looked comfortable throughout against Oxford United, but the best part of his performance might have actually come from the corner spot. After Thwaites demonstrated his free-kick quality against City, he has now shown Carrick how lethal he is as a corner-taker.
Thwaites assisted Albert Mills from a corner for the opener, and in a subsequent five or six deliveries throughout the game, each ball dropped in the six-yard box, creating havoc, and United should have scored another goal or two from his efforts.
This season, United have scored 13 goals from set-pieces so far, but having someone as accurate and consistent as Thwaites over the ball could easily increase. A true specialist with a dead ball, Thwaites is good enough already to be considered a first-team option, potentially as secondary to Kobbie Mainoo, not only for his free-kick and corner ability.
Carrick will surely have been impressed by Thwaites’ biggest weapon, along with his all-round game; the 18-year-old is ready for senior football, and should be integrated.
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Michael Carrick needs to integrate Thwaites this season
He might have only returned recently, but already, Thwaites is quite clearly ready for a bigger challenge, and being a unique profile of a midfielder, United cannot afford to miss out on.
Thwaites is a Spanish midfielder in style, and he brings qualities few others could, assuming he develops as expected.
So over the next 12 games, Carrick needs to do either himself or the next manager a favour and give Thwaites minutes.
The reason for this would be to see whether Thwaites is ready or not to be considered a legitimate option for United next season in midfield, or whether he should be sent out on loan.
Thwaites is the best midfielder currently in the academy ranks, so if anyone deserves a call-up and opportunities to follow in Tyler Fletcher’s footsteps, it is him.
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