Ruben Amorim already trusts Man Utd wonderkid, club expect him to leapfrog Toby Collyer

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Ruben Amorim has turned to the academy over the past few weeks, with the coming weeks likely to see a handful of debuts.

The Manchester United academy must be as motivated as ever right now with the knowledge that first-team spots are up for grabs. Amorim has a history of utilising youth and due to an injury crisis, he is doing the same at Old Trafford.

During his career, Amorim handed out 27 academy debuts at Sporting Lisbon, which was exciting when the Portuguese head coach was announced.

Last weekend saw Amorim name seven United academy youngsters on the bench which was enforced by injuries, but the young talents are in many ways already better than their senior teammates.

Manchester United bench against Tottenham

Chido Obi became United’s 252nd academy graduate, and the expectation is this will not be the last debut Amorim hands out before the season is done.

There are plenty of options and players who can follow Obi – with one name in particular impressing Amorim.

• READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Man Utd’s head coach – Ruben Amorim

Ruben Amorim has trust in Sekou Kone

One position United are lacking in right now is central midfield. United are without Kobbie Mainoo along with fellow midfielders Manuel Ugarte and Toby Collyer.

However, Ineos must have foreseen this coming with last summer’s acquisition of Sekou Kone from FC Guidars, which already looks like an excellent value for money.

• READ: Who is Sekou Kone? Meet the midfield man who could have Kobbie Mainoo-esque impact at Man Utd

Kone cost United just £1m and now his chance in the first team looks close after a series of dominant displays for the U21s.

According to Give Me Sport, Kone’s debut is already being eyed with it expected to come before the end of this season – although it could realistically come as early as this weekend against Everton.

The report continues that Amorim already has trust in Kone, after he has impressed the coaching staff already in the new reign.

Additionally, it is explained the club considers the 18-year-old Mali midfielder more capable than Collyer in dealing with the demands of Premier League football.

Due to this, long-term Kone is expected to leapfrog Collyer which would be a pretty big win for Ineos’ recruitment, to have found Kone in Mali and signed him as a raw prospect – to now being on the verge of first-team football.

• READ: Who is Toby Collyer? Meet the Manchester United starlet who has been compared to N’Golo Kante

Sekou Kone epitomises Manchester United’s new plan

The financial situation at Manchester United right now is perilous and means the club are having to find new solutions when in the past a big-money addition could have been made.

Due to this, the academy’s depth of talent will turn out to be incredibly valuable to United – with Kone probably the player most likely to play a big role right now.

• READ MORE: Manchester United’s Best Academy Players of All Time

United signing Kone is a massive indicator of the club’s recruitment policy. Given how low profile he was, United likely scouted Kone at the U17 World Cup, in which he impressed.

If Amorim starts using Kone imminently, this will justify Ineos’ plan and would indicate a summer packed with more shrewd low-risk signings. Undeniably this is one of the big wins from Ineos’ reign.