Manchester United’s players trained under new manager Erik ten Hag for the first time on Monday, and for several stars, attempting to impress a new Red Devils boss will have felt very familiar.
The likes of David de Gea and Phil Jones were training under their seventh United boss, with Ten Hag following predecessors Sir Alex Ferguson, David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and interim replacement Ralf Rangnick.
For others, the experience was a little more unique. With several first team stars still away after international duty, there was a chance for young players to step up and try and catch Ten Hag’s eye.
There were eight teenagers spotted joining in Ten Hag’s first session, mixing in with more established senior stars.
Eight Manchester United teenagers join Ten Hag’s first training session
There were eight teenagers involved in United’s first training session, hoping to earn a spot on the club’s pre-season tour.
Among them were Alejandro Garnacho, who returned early, and there was even a Dutchman involved too, centre-back Bjorn Hardley.
Former Atalanta winger Amad featured, along with another winger, Noam Emeran, a young Frenchman who is expected to head out on loan, and playmaker Shola Shoretire.
- Alejandro Garnacho, 17
- Noam Emeran, 19
- Charlie Savage, 19
- Shola Shoretire, 18
- Alvaro Fernandez, 19
- Amad, 19
- Bjorn Hardley, 19
- Charlie Wellens, 19
Pictures of the young players can be seen below, including Alvaro Fernandez, who is being tipped as United’s breakout pre-season star. Charlie Wellens, not pictured, was also involved.
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These were not the only ‘young’ players involved under Ten Hag, with 20-year-old right-back Ethan Laird also back at Carrington, along with Dishon Bernard, 21.
Ethan Galbraith, 21, was also pictured, as was goalkeeper Matej Kovar, 22, and another Dutchman, Tahith Chong, 22.
Ten Hag has to work out what to do with all the young talent available to him at Old Trafford. Some will be sent out on loan, or perhaps even sold, while others will be kept around, possibly with the Europa League group stages in mind, with a big squad required amid a very condensed season.
Getting an early look at some of these young players will have been very valuable for the new boss, and the hard work is only just getting started.