Erik ten Hag believes 16-year-old Man Utd whizkid has ‘massive future’, plans to fast-track him to first team

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is continuing to look for more academy talent who can replicate Alejandro Garnacho’s rise.

Alejandro Garnacho has been joined in the Manchester United first team by his FA Youth Cup winning teammate Kobbie Mainoo. And more will follow.

This week youngster Jack Fletcher was seen training with the United squad ahead of the Champions League match with Galatasaray.

This was an exciting development as it showed Fletcher was being rewarded for a stunning performance for the under-18s at the weekend where he ran the show from midfield in a 5-1 win away at Southampton, demonstrating Erik ten Hag is paying close attention.

Erik ten Hag impressed with Jack Fletcher

According to The Sun, the manager is very impressed by what he has seen from Jack Fletcher, since he signed in the summer along with twin brother Tyler Fletcher, leaving Manchester City.

Both players featured in the UEFA Youth League game this week at Galatasaray.

The report quotes an insider: “Erik Ten Hag has been watching Jack closely for several months now and has been really impressed. He thinks he has huge potential which is why he decided to promote him to train with the first team last week.

“Ten Hag is now working with his staff to put a plan in place to try and develop and fast-track Jack’s progress.

“He is likely to go out on loan next season but Erik believes, in the long term, he has a massive future at United. He’s been wowed by his attitude, and his maturity and – thinks he is the latest in an exciting crop of talent to be coming through at United.”

Promising creative midfielder

Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho were able to progress to the first team without going out on loan, so that is not imperative to Fletcher’s development, although it may help.

The youngster is a creative midfielder who City wanted to keep, before he made the switch, joining the club where his dad Darren now plays, currently the club’s technical director.

We will have to see how this pans out, it’s on Fletcher, he has to continue to work hard to impress Erik ten Hag. The coaching staff will want to see continued upwards development over the coming season, and then he could potentially get a chance next pre-season.

Fletcher turns 17 in March, and Kobbie Mainoo made his debut at this age in the Carabao Cup last season. There is a possibility that if Ten Hag continues to be impressed by his attitude and ability, a call-up could even happen late this season.

There are more talented midfielders in the mix at Carrington too, with Dan Gore, Isak-Hansen Aaroen and Finley McAllister among those hoping to make their mark like Mainoo has done.