Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick used Wednesday night’s match against Young Boys to give experience to a handful of academy players.
The conveyor belt of talent at Old Trafford is not slowing down. United’s youngsters won the UEFA Youth League group with five wins out of six matches.
With almost half the season gone, United’s top talents are beginning to kick on. There are three players already closing in on the 10 goal mark for the Red Devils’ academy teams.
Here is a look at the three most prolific United youngsters so far in the 2021/22 season…
Manni Norkett
The best Manchester United youth striker you may not have heard of. There has been a remarkable lack of hype around the centre-forward, who has quietly gone about his business this season.
Norkett stepped up from the under-16s and after a quiet start, he has become a regular goalscorer at under-18s level this season.
The youngster turned 17 in October and has nine goals to his name already. Six of these have come in nine under-18 league matches, and he also bagged a hat-trick in a Premier League Cup match.
Norkett has also made his under-23 debut and also featured in the EFL Trophy. He is not a young striker particularly reliant on pace, but he knows where the net is. Give him a chance and he will usually take it.
He is the highest scorer in United’s academy to date this season and also has one assist to his name.
Alejandro Garnacho
United know Garnacho is a big talent, and having just turned 17 in October, there is no need to rush him. That’s why he was kept on in the under-18s at the start of the campaign while others moved up to the 23s.
Garnacho has been very lively, playing wide as part of a front three, and he has recently been promoted to the 23s in the past few weeks anyway.
The former Atletico Madrid prospect has six goals combined for the under-18s and under-19s in the UEFA Youth League, and a further two now at under-23 level after a brace against Blackburn at the weekend.
With eight goals to his name already, Garnacho has already outscored his tally of seven last season, and he also has three assists.
With 11 goal contributions in total, Garnacho is the most productive United academy player so far this season.
Charlie McNeill
It’s no surprise to see Charlie McNeill on this list. He scored 25 goals in all competitions for the under-18s last season and has since stepped up to the 23s.
McNeill has found it a little tougher in the 23s, although he did score on his first game of the season. After a slow spell in September and October, McNeill is now up to seven goals for the season.
These include two goals in four UEFA Youth League matches, four goals for the 23s in the league and one in the EFL Trophy.
The 18-year-old has been on a scoring streak lately, netting five goals in his last six matches in all competitions. McNeill has two assist to his name too, taking his goal contribution tally to nine.
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