The Man Utd kids tipped to shine in pre-season

Manchester United's youngsters are chasing silverware on a couple of fronts.

At under-21 level, Adam Lawrence's side beat Sunderland on Sunday to secure a Premier League 2 play-off quarter-final trip to Crystal Palace.

Darren Fletcher's under-18 side may miss out on the Premier League North title to Manchester City, but they have a chance to avenge that in the FA Youth Cup final against their neighbours - the date for which is still to be agreed as it is wrapped up in the fixture wrangle affecting Pep Guardiola's title-chasing senior squad.

For United's players, these matches are huge and could have a significant impact on who gets an opportunity to play a meaningful role in the early part of pre-season and push their claims for more involvement at senior level.

In 2018, United's first pre-season game came four days after France beat Croatia in the World Cup final. Jose Mourinho's squad included seven rookies, including Tahith Chong, James Garner and Mason Greenwood, who was only 16 at the time.

This time around, United start their pre-season the day before the final, against Premier League promotion hopefuls Wrexham in Helsinki on 18 July.

Given players are allowed a minimum three-week break between the end of one season and the start of the next, it effectively means any player involved in the World Cup will not be in Finland.

Of the current squad, Patrick Dorgu, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko play for countries who have not qualified.

Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven won't be picked, while centre-back Matthijs de Ligt seems unlikely to be called up by the Netherlands given his injury issues, and keeper Andre Onana is still under contract but currently on loan in Turkey with Trabzonspor.

That is potentially a lot of youngsters playing against Wrexham, and potentially Norwegian side Rosenborg on 24 July.

Lawrence said no decisions have been taken yet.

"At the end of the season and the start of next we will sit down and look at the individual pathways and programmes for the players," he added.

"There will be some that hopefully, if their performance levels - and where they're at - deserves, will be involved with the first team in pre-season.

"Then you're looking to see if those players grasp the opportunities, just in terms of, for instance, it being a World Cup year, there might be even more players that go with the first team.

"When you get those opportunities, then it's down to the player to perform and give a good impression of themselves."

Who will be knocking on the first-team door come July?

Shea Lacey – Lacey, 19, has already made three senior appearances as a substitute and been on the bench 11 times, including against Brentford even though he made a goalscoring appearance for Lawrence's under-21 side the day before. Lawrence has already said the England Under-20 wide forward, a left-footed player who operates on the right, is transitioning into a full-time member of the first-team squad.

JJ Gabriel – The 15-year-old star of United's under-18 team. Gabriel is top scorer in the Premier League Under-18 league. His speed and balance set him apart from other talents at the same age and is only lacking physical stature, which is another reason why his progress is being monitored so closely. He has trained regularly with the first team this season and had rules around his age - he was 14 at the start of the season and would almost certainly have been called up to the senior matchday squad before now.

Radek Vitek – The 22-year-old, who was given a new United contract last July until 2028, has had an outstanding campaign on loan at Bristol City. The big question is what happens now? Vitek made it clear in an interview with BBC Sport last month his overriding priority is to play. The chances of him ousting Senne Lammens as Manchester United's first choice appear slim. However, with Lammens almost certain to be with Belgium at the World Cup, there is a strong chance Vitek will remain at Old Trafford for the first part of pre-season before further discussions take place over his pathway.

Chido Obi – The Denmark Under-21 international striker made eight first-team appearances last season when Ruben Amorim's squad was stretched, but none in this campaign, although he was on the bench once against Fulham in February. Instead, Chido has mixed Premier League 2 and Youth Cup appearances as he gets used to the demands of being a professional and works to try to shave off some of the rough edges in his game. Like Vitek, another player likely to start the season at Old Trafford before a decision is made about his future later in the summer.

Image caption,

Chido Obi made eight senior appearances last season

Harry Amass – Many felt Amass was unfortunate to be loaned out to Sheffield Wednesday to clear a space for Paraguay youngster Diego Leon. However, Amass excelled, to the extent Norwich City wanted him in January to aid their push for a Championship play-off spot. Sadly for Amass, he suffered a season-ending hamstring injury after a single appearance for the Canaries. The 19-year-old left-back will be fully fit for pre-season.

Tyler Fletcher – Son of former United midfielder Darren, Tyler Fletcher seems to have nudged slightly ahead of twin brother Jack in the Old Trafford pecking order. An effective holding midfield player, Fletcher has excellent awareness and provides a lot of cover in deeper positions. Given his senior debut by Michael Carrick in February, Fletcher has been on the first team bench on a further 11 occasions and the Scotland youth international seems certain to push on next season.

Jack Fletcher – Made his first-team debut before Tyler with three substitute appearances in December. However, he has been on the bench on only four occasions and not at all since Carrick took charge. Fletcher's passing range is good and he also has an eye for goal; netting with a clinical finish in the victory over Sunderland at Leigh on Sunday. The 19-year-old has been forgiven for the fallout from the red card he was shown in the EFL Trophy at Barnsley, when he was given a six-match ban for a homophobic slur, and also seems sure to be given more senior exposure in 2026-27.

Jim Thwaites – It has been a big few weeks for Thwaites, who was named on the senior side's bench for the first time at Chelsea earlier this month. Before that he went to Maynooth for United's four-day training camp. A number 10 growing up, Thwaites has tended to be used in deeper roles at under-18 level, which allow him to dictate games. He has also shown himself to be adept at curling free-kicks, which have earned comparisons to David Beckham. Thwaites, 18, went on United's post-season tour of Asia 12 months ago and had trained regularly with the senior squad.

Godwill Kukonki – Another player who has flitted between the under-18 and under-21 sides this season. Kukonki is an imposing left-footed defender who has operated in both central defence and left-back. His strength and size are particularly potent weapons and the 18-year-old's most recent exposure on the first-team bench was for the defeat at Newcastle in March. Still to make his senior debut, it remains to be seen how his chances are affected by Ayden Heaven's development.

Bendito Mantato – Currently injured, Mantato was one of the young players who was part of what turned out to be Amorim's only pre-season tour as United manager last summer. The 18-year-old was the only United player named in England's Under-17 World Cup squad and he made his senior debut as a second-half substitute against Wolves at Old Trafford in December. A right-sided player, he has been used as a forward mainly, but also capable of featuring at full-back.

Noah Ajayi – Ajayi is a German youth international who scored a superb goal in United's FA Youth Cup quarter-final victory over Sunderland at Old Trafford. He cuts in from the left-hand side, and has the pace and balance to unsettle opponents. At 17, he has a bit of developing still to do but has frequently impressed in the Premier League Under-18 competition.