Manchester United are back for pre-season, with the countdown to the 2026/27 season now on, with Harry Amass among the faces spotted back at Carrington.
Michael Carrick welcomed back his first-team squad on Thursday – minus the World Cup players and potential new signings of Andrey Santos and Ederson.
There are just eight days until Manchester United kick-off pre-season against Wrexham in Finland, and there are a handful of youngsters spotted taking part with the first-team.
- Harry Amass
- Jack Fletcher
- Shea Lacey
- Tyler Fredricson
- Toby Collyer
Harry Amass was among them, returning after a brilliant loan at Sheffield Wednesday last season, and also a bad injury. But he will have that number two left-back role in his sights.
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Harry Amass back in pre-season training for Manchester United
Having seen a deal for Lewis Hall pushed off the table, United are now viewing Amass as an alternative and therefore to become the second choice to Luke Shaw for the 2026/27 campaign.
The role is Amass’ for the taking and he will get plenty of opportunities to impress Carrick during the coming pre-season campaign with Shaw needing an alternative.
In photos released by United, Amass can be seen alongside Jack Fletcher looking strong and bulky. The left-back appears to have put on some muscle, looking like a player who might seriously be ready to play in the Premier League.
This is the effect of Amass’ loan to Wednesday, which saw him in the Championship’s worst side, having no choice but to develop physically and it could pay off.
Erik ten Hag doubted Amass’ physical readiness and ability to cope with senior football, but the left-back has clearly worked on this in the past few years and now looks ready.
This will do Amass wonders in his chances of earning a place in Carrick’s permanent plans and to shine when he gets the chances.
Pre-season for Amass has been mixed so far in his career. Amass played every game in the 2024 tour, before last summer seeing Ruben Amorim axe him in favour of Diego Leon.
2026 will be his best yet though.
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Amass will play a lot of football as Luke Shaw’s back-up
Amass needs game time to continue his development, and so he shouldn’t be kept just to leave on the bench. But by backing up Shaw in the 2026/27 season, he should play a lot.
Shaw started every league game during 2025/26, which is unprecedented and unlikely to be repeated. This especially the case with European football and cup competitions to play.
Asking Shaw to play twice a week is a one way street to the 12 year United veteran getting injured, considering his proneness to missing games.
So Amass should quite easily start 15-20 games across all competitions this coming season if he can nail down the position in pre-season, which sets him up nicely to take over in 2027/28.
Amass’ breakout season is pending.
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