Manchester United have a flourishing academy system and Erik ten Hag is making good use of some of the talents coming through.
Alejandro Garnacho has established himself as a regular in the first team, while FA Youth Cup winning teammate Kobbie Mainoo is primed to so do too, pending return from injury.
Hannibal Mejbri is another player who has recently stepped up, scoring his first Manchester United goal last month.
Here is a look at the six most exciting players in the Manchester United academy who could be set to follow…
Dan Gore
Dan Gore, 19, played in midfield alongside Mainoo in the FA Youth Cup and he recently made his first team debut in the Carabao Cup.
The combative midfielder impressed during pre-season, and recently scored an impressive solo goal for the under-21s in a win over Blackburn.
Having already caught Erik ten Hag‘s eye, the future looks promising for Gore, who is already training regularly with the senior squad.
Omari Forson
Omari Forson is also showing Erik ten Hag that he should pay attention to his form. He has scored six goals in six appearances at youth level this season, also providing two assists.
Forson, 19, featured in six pre-season matches, and if his performances there showed he was not quite ready, his displays for the academy demonstrate he has learned, and is deserving of a fresh opportunity.
The teenager was on substitute’s bench against Bayern Munich, and could position himself as a replacement for Jadon Sancho over the coming weeks.
Ethan Williams
Another lively wide forward, Ethan Williams had a breakthrough season for the under-18s last year, leading the team for combined goals and assists.
With one goal and one assist in one under-18 game this season, Williams was immediately promoted to the under-21s, where he has scored too.
Williams, 17, has trained with the Manchester United first team recently, and while this season might come too soon for him, he is a player to look out for in pre-season 2024.
Finley McAllister
England youth international midfielder Finley McAllister made his under-18s debut when he was just 14.
The 17-year-old central-midfielder has begun this season in excellent form, with two goals and two assists in five games, with the team recording a 100 per cent record so far.
Like Williams, McAllister may be a year away, but he is a very promising talent who is taking real steps forward at present, bouncing back from an injury-hit campaign in 2022/23.
Harry Amass
A summer signing from Watford, Manchester United should be very encouraged by the early form shown by Harry Amass.
The 17-year-old is shining at a position where Manchester United are short of options right now, at left-back.
He provided his first assist for United’s under-18 side at the weekend, and his progress is one to monitor. He has recently been called up into the England under-17 squad.
Shea Lacey
Shea Lacey has been tipped as the most exciting talent in Manchester United’s academy, with an impressive combination of passing and dribbling ability, with an eye for goal.
Lacey, 16, made his under-18s debut last season at 15, and has five goal contributions in six academy games this season.
He has made a big impact at under-17 level for England too, with five goal contributions in four matches.
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