Players tipped to be next United heroes!
UNITED are the most successful team in the history of the FA Youth Cup, but will be playing their first final in 11 years when they take on Nottingham Forest tonight at Old Trafford.
Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Ravel Morrison were all part of that last successful side in 2011, and coach Travis Binnion believes a few players in this current crop could also have successful careers at the highest level.
Here, M.E.N. Sport takes a look at five stars from the side who could have bright futures...
ALEJANDRO GARNACHO AT the age of 17, he’s already made his senior debut and trained with both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. It is obvious to see why Alejandro Garnacho is viewed as the star of this exciting young team.
The Spanish-born Argentine international has five goals and three assists during this Youth Cup run and will be looking to grace Old Trafford with another dazzling display in the final.
Right now, he is the teenager with the most excitement surrounding him at United, though as we’ve seen many times before, it does not necessarily mean they will live up to the hype.
The final will be another priceless experience for him to deal with the pressure and see just what will be expected of him on a weekly basis.
CHARLIE MCNEILL
FOR many people, Charlie McNeill is best known as the striker who netted 600 goals in youth football for City before rejoining United two years ago.
Since then, he has continued to score freely, with 42 goals and 13 assists in 56 games since he joined the club. Five of those have come in the run to the FA Youth Cup final.
The 18-year-old is a lethal finisher, but club coaches are also impressed with how he has developed his overall game and begun to contribute more to the entire team effort rather than his own personal endeavours. He enjoys a rivalry with good friend Joe Hugill as they look to outscore one another, though the latter has been sidelined for a large part of the season with an ankle injury.
KOBBIE MAINOO
SCORING goals is the easiest way to get spotted at youth level, but it is testament to Kobbie Mainoo that he has managed to forge a reputation as one of the most exciting young midfielders in English football.
The Stockport-born starlet has already been likened to Paul Pogba by some social media supporters for his outstanding technical ability in the centre of the pitch.
Mainoo reads the game exceptionally well and has the ability to create a chance out of nothing, while he also offers a threat going forward, with two goals in the Youth Cup himself this season.
At the age of 17, there is still plenty of work to do, but he certainly has the technical ability to one day make it in the professional game if he can keep up the hard work.
DANIEL GORE
DAN Gore is another exciting midfield talent who offers a threat going forward. He joined United three years ago from Burnley and has continued to shine as he works his way through the age groups.
The 17-year-old has already represented England at U18 level as well as making his debut for United’s U23s and has experience training with the first-team.
Gore was on the bench for the first two matches in the Youth Cup but has started the last three and will be hoping for another run out in the final.
MARC JURADO
MARC Jurado was one of three exciting teenagers signed from Spain two years ago, alongside Garnacho and Alvaro Fernandez.
All three have trained with the senior side, and all three have genuine hopes of one day making it in the professional game. The 18-year-old has started every match in the Youth Cup this season and also did the same in the run to the quarter-finals of the Uefa Youth League. Jurado has captained the U18s on numerous occasions and has also begun his progression to the U23s side ahead of a full promotion to the age group next season.
He still has plenty of work to do, but with United’s right-back issues so well-documented at first-team level, the former Barcelona defender could well be one to watch in the years ahead.