As the pressure rises once again on Erik ten Hag, the lack of first-team opportunities afforded to Manchester United’s Harry Amass is becoming another stick with which to beat the under-fire boss.
While Ten Hag has had the luxury of an almost fully-fit squad to choose from these days – Rasmus Hojlund back and Leny Yoro stepping up his recovery behind-the-scenes at Manchester United – the left-back spot remains a cause for concern.
Diogo Dalot has endured a difficult start to the campaign, at fault for Brennan Johnson’s rapid fire opener during Sunday’s 3-0 hammering by Tottenham Hotspur.
With Luke Shaw suffering yet another injury set-back and with Tyrell Malacia not yet in first-team contention either, the continued absence of Harry Amass from the senior set-up has left many Manchester United supporters puzzled.
Amass has not even featured in a matchday squad so far in 2024/25.
Despite an excellent pre-season – Amass earned comparisons with a young Luke Shaw after fizzing in an assist for Amad Diallo against Real Betis – the England Under 18 international has been restricted to EFL Trophy and Premier League 2 action this term.
But if there is one thing Ten Hag can take some credit for, it’s the way he has handled the development of Man United’s rising stars. Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, fittingly, scored the goals which won Ten Hag the FA Cup in May.
And while the clamour is growing for Amass to follow in Mainoo and Garnacho’s footsteps, Ten Hag is wary of throwing the 17-year-old in at the deep end before he is ready to cast off the armbands.
Harry Amass needs to bulk up before he is Manchester United ready
The Athletic point out that Amass is seen as lacking the physicality for first-team football.
It should not be forgotten that Man United snapped up the ex-Watford wonderkid from under Chelsea’s nose just 14 months ago.
Amass is still a second-year scholar. Better to delay his debut than to throw him in before he is ready.
Imagine, for instance, if Ten Hag had fielded Amass against the likes of Mo Salah, Yankuba Minteh or Brennan Johnson. One bad afternoon of Premier League football would surely have been more damaging to Amass’ development than a few more months with the youngsters.
Back in August, Ten Hag warned the Man United fans that they would have to be patient with the likes of Amass, Toby Collyer and Ethan Wheatley.
Garnacho had to wait until a few months into the 2022/23 campaign to get his chance, after all. And the rapid emergence of a truly generational talent such as Mainoo should be viewed as the exception rather than the rule.
Erik ten Hag has already explained Amass plan at Man United
“With young players, it will go with ups and downs,” Ten Hag said after United’s USA tour came to an end. “And we have to realise that
“It’s normal that it will not only go (positively) with young people. Sometimes, they will have a drop off and then it’s about do they have the character to bounce back and to achieve against high levels?”
“We have to make progress, but we all see here a potential where we have seen in previous years. For instance, Garnacho. We had it during last season with Kobbie.
“(Amass) is not that far (along in his development) at this moment,” Ten Hag added, spelling out a plan to introduce the left-back potentially from Novembe onwards. “But if we train him well, if we coach him well, then in three months it’s possible that he can be on that point.
“But in this moment he needs to catch up and he has to develop some skills already to play for Manchester United, competing for the highest positions in the league. But with big talent it can go up very quickly.
“That is very interesting to see if he is capable of doing this.”
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
