Manchester United have an exciting crop of young players coming through who are all hoping to follow the club’s long lineage of successful academy graduates.
Kobbie Mainoo is demonstrating what is possible in the Manchester United first team this season, and in turn, he is providing an inspiration to dozens of others in the academy.
One player who made an important step forward in his career at the weekend is young winger Ashton Missin.
Missin featured as Manchester United’s under-21s took on Middlesbrough, and netted to open the scoring.
The youngster was put through by Ethan Wheatley and dummied the goalkeeper to score high at the near post.
An own goal put United 2-0 up, before a defensive collapse saw the Red Devils go on to lose the match 3-2.
Result aside, this was a positive night for Ashton Missin, who scored his first ever under-21 goal, on his first ever start at this level. He had previously made one substitute appearance.
Ashton Missin profile
- Age/date of birth: 17, born 15/8/06
- Place of birth: Halifax
- Nationality: English
- Position: Winger
Ashton Missin has been a regular in the Manchester United under-18s side who are top of the league with only one defeat this season.
He has scored three goals and provided two assists, and he also played four times in the UEFA Youth League.
United have used him on both the left and right wing, and he has scored goals from both positions.
Ashton Missin has a chance at Manchester United
Ashton Missin is a direct winger who has proven to be a valuable contributor for Adam Lawrence’s Manchester United under-18s side.
United now want to test him at a higher level, with two under-21 appearances in recent weeks, and he has grasped his chance.
Along with Malachi Sharpe and Shea Lacey, United have a group of talented young wingers coming through the academy, and you could also throw Ethan Williams into that mix too, a forward who has 22 goal contributions this season now.
Missin is also a player to watch, with United’s young stars all desperate to make the jump and become the next Kobbie Mainoo.
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