Kobbie Mainoo, Leny Yoro and Shea Lacey have helped Man Utd rank second in minutes for U23s

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Manchester United have always taken pride in trusting in youth and that has been central to the club’s success in 2025/26.

Michael Carrick deserves huge credit for securing Manchester United a third-place finish in the Premier League in 2025/26.

And Carrick did it by sticking to the principles he learned from his title-winning experience at Old Trafford. Youth. Courage. Success. Carrick brought stability and consistency to the side, and also showed trust in the young players in the squad.

In the final game, a 3-0 win over Brighton, academy graduates Shea Lacey and Tyler Fletcher featured off the bench.

🔴⚪️⚫️Sum up the 2025/26 season for Manchester United…

A fourth highest points tally since Sir Alex Ferguson retired!⚡️

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Only one Premier League club gave more minutes than Man Utd to U23s

There are several young players in this United squad, ranging from academy graduates like Kobbie Mainoo and Shea Lacey, to signings like Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven and Benjamin Sesko.

As pointed out by Gradient Sports on X, players under the age of 23 made up for 34.5% of United’s Premier League minutes this season.

Only Brighton (39.3%) gave a larger share of minutes to youth players than United in 2025/26.

A full breakdown of United’s age range in minutes looks like this:

• 16-23 years old: 34.5%
• 23-29 years old: 38%
• 29-34 years old: 27.6%
• 34+ years old: 0%

If Elliot Anderson is £125m… What is Kobbie Mainoo’s market value right now?

Not that he's going anywhere…🔒

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Man Utd’s young stars can step up in 2026/27

The likes of Yoro, Mainoo and Sesko all make up part of that youth statistic, but in reality, they are quickly becoming key members of this squad.

If United are going to challenge for the title in the next two years, in accordance with Ineos’ ‘Project 150’, then Carrick will need them to step up and take responsibility.

READ MORE: Man United’s 100,000-seater stadium mooted as Olympic Games host amid official bid talks

In 2026/27, the likes of Yoro, Mainoo and Sesko will no longer be considered young players, but instead as important starters.

United are back in the Champions League and are expected to build on their third-place finish. All young stars at Old Trafford need to take a step up next season.