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Six academy prospects were given a rare opportunity to train with the senior squad yesterday, as Erik ten Hag looks to assess his options ahead of the busy schedule.
The six youngsters are: Shola Shoretire, Omari Forson, Zane Butterfield, Kian Flanagan, Leo Castledine and Ethan Ennis. All of them are yet to make their competitive debut under ten Hag, who took over the reins in November last year.
Shoretire and Forson are the most experienced of the bunch, having played five first-team matches each under the previous manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. However, they have not featured under ten Hag, who has preferred to stick with his trusted players.
The other four are still waiting for their first taste of senior football, but have impressed in the academy ranks. Butterfield is a versatile defender who can play as a centre-back or a full-back, Flanagan is a creative midfielder who can also operate as a winger, Castledine is a skilful playmaker who can unlock defences with his vision and Ennis is a speedy forward who can score goals from any angle.
The six youngsters will be hoping to catch the eye of ten Hag, who has shown a willingness to give chances to young players in his previous clubs. The Dutchman has a reputation for developing talent and improving players, as he did with the likes of Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt and Donny van de Beek at Ajax.
With the club facing a hectic fixture list in the coming weeks, ten Hag may need to rotate his squad and give some rest to his key players. This could open the door for some of the academy prospects to make their mark and stake a claim for more involvement in the future.
