The Manchester United academy has always known to have produced talented football players over the years. From Sir Matt Busby's Busby Babes to Sir Alex Ferguson's Fergie's Fledglings, the 20-time English first-division champions have been at the fore of nurturing talent early and giving the youngsters opportunities to showcase it on the big stage.
Over the past few years, the United academy has not been able to replicate their past successes, with only Marcus Rashford and Timothy Fosu-Mensah managing to impress the management to make it to the first team.
However, United fans now have every reason to be excited at the number of current prospects who could make it to the first team from the academy. After having played nine matches in the Under-18 Premier League North, the Manchester United youngsters have a two-point lead at the top of the table, although Manchester City, who are second, have three matches in hand.
Here, we take a look at ten of the stars from the academy who could earn a call to the first team.
The list is made on the basis of the players’ performances for the youth squad(s) as well as their potential based on what has been revealed by youth coaches and Jose Mourinho, the Mancheter United manager.
#10 Tyrell Warren
Tyrell Warren might be one of the lesser known academy graduates from Man United. However, he was one of the two names that Jose Mourinho mentioned when talking about the youngsters who could make the first team this term. Warren was touted to be named on the bench for Mourinho's first pre-season friendly against Wigan Athletic.
Manchester-born Warren, who is primarily a right-back, can also play at centre-back. He had a good string of performances in the 2015/16 season that earned him a call-up to the Warren Joyce's Under-21 squad, where he played five times.
Although the 18-year-old has started just four of the nine Under-18 Premier League matches, he will be looking to impress his bosses with this performances and earn a call-up to the senior squad sometime in the ongoing season.
#9 George Tanner
16-year-old George Tanner is one of the most talented players in the current academy roster. Tanner, who was signed as a first-year scholar in the summer of 2015, has the ability to play in a number of positions. He can play up front as a forward, in the midfield as a winger or even as a full-back.
The Blackpool-born lad has started eight of the nine matches in the Under-18 Premier League matches and has been doing a brilliant job at left-back so far. Tanner was Manchester United's only representative for the England Under-17 squad at the Algarve Tournament that was held in early 2016.
Tanner's adaptability and versatility can lead to a senior side call-up soon if he can maintain the consistency in his performances for the youth side.
#8 Lee O'Connor
Lee O’Connor is one of the best Irish talents to come through recently and has been a revelation in defence and midfield. Having represented the Republic of Ireland at the Under-17 level, O’Connor has been a regular in the Under-18 side this season.
The 16-year-old has made great strides in the Under-18 side and this has helped him get a place in the Warren Joyce's reserve side. This step will definitely go a long way in his aim to make it to the senior side.
O’Connor came to the limelight when he scored a brilliant solo goal for Ireland U-17 against Turkey U-17 last month. The Irishman, who was playing at the heart of the defence, carried the ball all the way from well within his own half and fired a shot past the Turkish goalkeeper.
#7 Callum Gribbin
Callum Gribbing, the Salford-born 17-year-old is one of the brightest prospects to come out of Carrington. However, the supremely talented Gribbin has been unlucky after suffering an injury that cut short his 2015/16 season.
During the UEFA Youth League last season, Gribbin added a defensive side to his game, which was aplenty with silky skills.
Earlier this season, in August, Gribbin scored a brilliant solo goal against Barcelona in the Otten Cup, marking his return from the long injury. Unfortunately, he suffered another injury soon after and is only back in training with the Under-18 side.
Although there are some complaints regarding his attitude, the free-kick specialist will be looking to put all criticism aside and prove his worth when he gets back to playing for the U-18s with this being the last season for him in the academy.
#6 Indy Boonen
It has been just over a year since Manchester United signed Indy Boonen, the talented midfielder from Genk in Belgium. The 17-year-old has the ability to play all across midfield. After having been used mainly as an attacking midfielder last season, this term, he has on occasion, played a deeper role to great effect.
Boonen shared a great understanding with Marcus Rashford when the latter played for the academy last season. This time, he has been able to form a telepathic on-field relationship with Angel Gomes.
In the nine games this term, Boonen has scored three goals and has three assists to his name. The 17-year-old's experience gained at the 2016 Under-17 European Championship with Belgium seems to have helped him grow into a more versatile player this season.
#5 Ro-Shaun Williams
Like Callum Gribbin, Ro-Shaun Williams has been unlucky with regard to injuries which has hampered his rise to the first team. Last season, Williams had made the first team bench in the FA Cup as well as the Europa League.
The 18-year-old moved to Manchester United from Fletcher Moss, the same academy that produced Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Marcus Rashford. Williams had broken former British sprinter, Darren Campbell's 100m record, at the Ashton-upon-Mersey school, which had remained unbeaten for 25 years.
The modern style of football warrants a lot of pace and intensity, and Williams could be a valuable addition to the first team, considering the fact that he is seldom beaten for pace by any of the opposition's attackers.
Last season, Williams made 18 starts for the United Reserves in defence, partnering Axel Tuanzebe, with whom he has a wonderful understanding.
#4 DJ Buffonge
Darren Raekwon McIntosh-Buffonge signed for Man United in November 2015, after having previously been in the Arsenal and Fulham academies. Buffonge is another midfielder in the United ranks who can play a deeper role or an attacking one based on the needs of the team.
During the 2016/17 season, the Londoner was deployed mainly in defensive midfield alongside Callum Whelan. Despite playing a deeper role, Buffonge has found himself on the scoresheet on a number of occasions and produced assists for his teammates. He has three goals to his name so far this season.
The 17-year-old made his first appearance for the Reserves in September and will hope that a leap to the senior side follows soon.
#3 Tahith Chong
Since the last season, Tahith Chong has been named as one of the most exciting Dutch talents. The 16-year-old was with Feyenoord since the age of 10 and moved to Manchester United earlier this season, just in time for the Under-18's first match against the Derby County Under-18 squad.
Chong has the ability to play on the wings, especially his favoured left flank, as well as play as a striker which gives the Under-18 coach, Kieran McKenna more options to put out his best possible side.
Although the Curacao-born youngster has not scored many goals, he has a hand in five goals. Chong bagged both assists in Man United's 2-1 win over Middlesbrough in the Under-18 fixture earlier this month, with one of them showing his scorching pace on the left flank.
#2 Axel Tuanzebe
The 18-year-old defender is one of the most likely players to make it to the first team very soon. Axel Tuanzebe was immense for the academy which led to him being promoted to the Reserve side last season. He helped the Under-21s to win the league title last term.
This season, he has been performing even better for Warren Joyce's side, even being elevated to captaincy despite there being more senior players in the side. This shows the faith that Joyce has put on the young shoulders of the Congo-born defender.
Tuanzebe had come on as a substitute for Manchester United in the first pre-season friendly against Wigan Athletic. His reading of the game along with his strength and speed gives him an edge over the opposition forwards. It is probably just a matter of time before Mourinho gives the 18-year-old his first senior start.
#1 Angel Gomes
Angel Gomes has got to be the most thrilling prospect at Carrington. After joining Man United in July 2016, Gomes has not looked back and is getting better with each game. Nicky Butt, Head of the Academy, has said that United ‘have massive hopes’ for Gomes.
The London-born midfielder has scored five goals this season in the U-18 Premier League side, including a hat-trick as a substitute against Everton in August. This hat-trick made the then 15-year-old Gomes the youngest ever hat-trick scorer for Manchester United since the club introduced the U-18 in its current form.
Gomes made his England Under-16 debut at the age of 14 and is now the captain of the national Under-17 squad. In 11 appearances for club and country, Gomes has scored eight goals and has nine assists to his name.
If the young attacking midfielder can keep his feet on the ground and continue his terrific form, he could make a rise to the senior side in no time.
