Manchester United’s senior side is not in action until April 2, when they face Leicester in a crucial game.
Many of the club’s superstars and some of the young prospects are away on international duty, but the Under-18 side played against Sunderland today (Thursday).
The game was won by a solitary goal from Ethan Ennis who curled home the winner six minutes before half-time.
5 goals in 3 games
United convinced Ennis to join them from Liverpool in the summer, with the teenager a fairly low-key start after making a bold move.
But he is flying right now. He had four goals in two games going into this one and he netted again to make that five from three.
That is all the more impressive as he isn’t even a centre-forward; he’s an old-fashioned winger but one who clearly has an eye for goal.
He scored a brace in the dramatic 5-5 draw against his former club last week, before another two goals in United’s 4-1 win over Leeds on Saturday.
Clean sheet a major plus
Ennis’ goalscoring exploits may get the attention but United keeping a clean sheet is a major boost and worthy of note here.
This month, United’s Under 18s have conceded five goals against their bitterest rivals Manchester City and Liverpool and then of course another goal against Leeds at the weekend.
The win means that United are fifth in the Under 18 Premier League, but they have four games in hand on both City and Liverpool, who are first and second respectively.
City have 42 points, and United can only get up to 39 if they win all their games in hand, but that would take them ahead of Liverpool, who have 36.
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