It’s a busy point in Manchester United’s season and there are changes ongoing at different levels.
Injuries to first team stars Jesse Lingard, Ander Herrera and Juan Mata at the weekend means Ole Gunnar Solskjaer must accelerate plans for youngsters.
Solskjaer has confirmed Tahith Chong, James Garner, and Angel Gomes are all with the first team squad ahead of tonight’s Crystal Palace fixture.
Mason Greenwood’s injury is keeping the promising young striker out.
The first team call-ups have had a trickle down effect, some related, some unrelated.
Academy developments
In addition to the trio of first team call-ups, there have been seven promotions to the under-23s over the past fortnight.
United’s official website reveals that Ethan Galbraith and Conor Stanley made their first ever under-23 appearances on Monday.
Aliou Traore and Largie Ramazani made their first ever under-23 starts in the same Premier League Cup game against Reading.
The trio of Di’Shon Bernard, Dylan Levitt, and Brandon Williams made just their second starts at under-23 level.
Players going out on loan has also contributed to the recent wave of under-23 call-ups.
This is a stage of the season where decisions on players’ futures are being made, and United’s coaches are testing the under-18 players.
Decisions appear to have been made on the futures of two. DJ Buffonge and Tyrell Warren are set to leave United.
Bolton News report the pair played on trial for Bolton’s under-23 side this. Buffonge had a trial with Derby County earlier this month (via Derbyshire Live)
This is a period where some youngsters won’t make the cut.
Both Buffonge and Warren are 20, and it’s in their interests to let them leave, and try and find clubs where they stand a better chance of first team football.
Read more: Four lessons from United’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool
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