UNITED BLAZE A TRAIL TO SIGN TEEN DANTE

UNITED have officially completed the signing of teenager Dante Plunkett after a successful trial period with the club.

Plunkett has joined the academy from Aston Villa and now has the challenge of making progress in United’s youth set-up, with the aim of earning a professional contract.

The youngster’s natural position is left-back and he made his debut for United’s double cup-winning Under-18 side in their penultimate fixture of the campaign.

Plunkett played over 80 minutes in that clash and has impressed United staff during his trial period, which has seen him officially make the move to Manchester.

Plunkett confirmed his move to United on social media on Sunday night, sharing a photo of himself standing with a club shirt next to the United Trinity statue outside Old Trafford.

United’s U18s have enjoyed great success this term, winning the league and the cup at the expense of their rivals Manchester City, and recruitment has been key to that.

The club’s academy strives to be best-in-class and United regularly sign youngsters from other academies to strengthen their youth set-up. United’s academy has enjoyed a renaissance after a period of underachieving and Nix Cox’s appointment as head of academy in December 2019 was crucial.

“I think it’s really simple,” Cox recently told the M.E.N. about the improvement. “It’s about having good players, so get your recruitment right, having good coaches that know the game and their job.”