Manchester United have high hopes one of the club’s promising young strikers will be able to step up to the first team over the coming year or two.
Ethan Wheatley, Gabriele Biancheri, and incoming prospect Chido Obi-Martin are all players with aspirations to crack the first team, while promising forward Joe Hugill is learning the ropes out on loan.
One prospect who did not quite make the cut was former under-18s forward Manni Norkett.
Norkett was released in June 2023, a surprise move and it remains unclear whether it was his decision to depart, or if United simply did not offer him a new deal.
In the 2022/23 campaign, Norkett had finished has the under-18s top goalcorer on 11 goals, ahead of Ethan Wheatley, who netted five.
Manni Norkett at Nottingham Forest
Manni Norkett signed with Nottingham Forest’s academy after a trial, and has been working his way through their system.
Norkett featured for Forest’s under-21 side last season, although only managed to score once.
This season he managed to secure a loan move to League Two side Cheltenham Town, and he is now off the mark.
Norkett scores first professional goal
Norkett made his third appearance for Cheltenham in midweek, coming off the bench to score an equalising goal to inspire a 2-1 comeback victory over Accrington Stanley.
Cheltenham boss Michael Flynn told Gloucestershire Live he thought Norkett was ‘excellent’, while reserving the praise for himself.
He added: “We went positive, with another striker on the bench, or attacking player and it’s paid off. I will take the credit for that one!”
Norkett, 19, turns 20 at the end of the month and he can take heart from his progress since leaving Carrington.
While he did not enjoy a prolific season in Forest’s academy last season, he earned a loan move regardless, and is now making the most of it.
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