United have shown how impressive Shola Shoretire and Will Fish have been

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Manchester United used an early week training session to add a few fresh faces into the first team mix.

While there were returns for Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Brandon Williams from injury, and Facundo Pellistri was back with the first team squad too, United also brought in four more youngsters to the session.

Ethan Laird, who trained with the first team in July and August and made two Europa League appearances in 2019, was among the ‘new faces’. Anthony Elanga was also called up after an impressive under-23 season so far in which he has struck six goals. He also featured for the first team in a pre-season game in early September.

The two freshest faces in the mix were 16-year-old winger Shola Shoretire and 17-year-old centre-back Will Fish.

Fish has until now been overshadowed by Teden Mengi, but this season he has arguably been the better of the two.

This is partly down to consistency. Mengi has been shifted between first team and under-23 squads, and has struggled to find the form he showed last season.

Fish is in the first team mix on merit, having started every single under-23 game, he has shown great application and looks comfortable playing at a level above his age range.

The teenager is just with the first team to gain experience, although an injury to Victor Lindelof does slightly narrow down the queue in front of him.

This call up was just reward, and might spur Mengi on a bit too. There is no under-23 game until mid-January, so a few more youngsters may be mixed in over the coming fortnight.

Shoretire is way ahead of schedule

It seems almost ridiculous that a player of Shola Shoretire’s age is making in-roads towards the United first team already at just 16. United know it is going to be difficult to hold him back.

This is a player who made his UEFA Youth League debut at just 14, and at 16 has been a regular at under-23 level this season. After struggling initially, he has kicked on, and has two goals and two assists.

Like with Fish, United are just testing Shoretire to see how he copes moving up an extra level, both physically, and with their approach off the pitch.

The young winger is way ahead of schedule at United and it would be a surprise if he does not make his first team debut within the next couple of seasons.

By bringing both players into the first team squad, United have shown how highly both are rated by the coaching staff. Now they each have to use this as motivation to work harder to get even better and earn more opportunities.

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