Manchester United call FA Youth Cup winning centre-back Louis Jackson into first team training

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Manchester United are in need of extra defensive reinforcements at present and a new face has been spotted in training.

Lisandro Martinez is not the only Manchester United defensive injury. Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Tyrell Malacia missed the training session yesterday, with only Shaw having a chance to recover for the weekend against Luton.

Victor Lindelof might be moved out to full-back as cover, creating space for a young centre-back to join Willy Kambwala in first team training.

Enter Louis Jackson, a highly rated centre-back prospect who has been part of the under-18s side which has won 14 and drawn one of 15 league games this season.

Louis Jackson trains with first team

Louis Jackson was the surprise star of Manchester United’s FA Youth Cup final winning team.

While he had featured earlier in the competition, he was drafted into the XI at the last minute after an illness to Tyler Fredricson. Just 16, he started in the 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford.

Jackson was named by The Guardian in 2022 as Manchester United’s most talented player in his age range. That might not have been accurate, considering Kobbie Mainoo is one of his peers, yet it demonstrates how highly considered he is.

The defender has been a consistent player in the academy over the past 12 months, and recently scored the winner in the under-18s derby against City, before proclaiming ‘Manchester is red’.

The Scotland youth international has trained with the first team before, pictured last September amid the heightening injury crisis, and Erik ten Hag is evidently keeping the door open for him to impress.

Jackson has made 21 appearances at youth level for United this season, which include four appearances for the under-21s.

Ethan Williams still involved

Earlier this week we reported how young winger Ethan Williams was spotted in first team training too.

Williams has been prolific at academy level this season with 19 goal contributions, 12 goals and seven assists to his name.

He was still involved in the latest session, with Erik ten Hag keen to get the club’s top prospects mixing in among first team stars. It was this model which gave him the confidence to bring Kobbie Mainoo into the first team on a regular basis, with the midfielder winning him, his coaching staff, and the senior players over.