Looking beyond results and Manchester United’s on-field woes, there is a lingering frustration and bemusement regarding Ruben Amorim’s use of the academy ranks, having thus far yet to put faith in the youth set-up.
From the Busby Babes to the Class of ’92, United is a club synonymous with promoting from within. Even in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, every manager has had their prized asset, a statement starlet who’s risen up into the first-team squad.
Under David Moyes, there was Adnan Januzaj. Under Louis van Gaal, there was Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard. Jose Mourinho welcomed a young Scott McTominay into the fold, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer promoted Mason Greenwood.
Even interim boss Ralf Rangnick was quick to parachute Anthony Elanga into his struggling side, while Erik ten Hag was rewarded for his faith in Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, following the duo’s FA Cup final heroics.
Yes, Amorim did turn to 17-year-old Chido Obi in a desperate act last term, having handed the ex-Arsenal striker eight first-team appearances, although he hasn’t been seen again this time around.
From the days of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, the only significant academy poster boy is 20-year-old Mainoo – a player who hasn’t yet started a Premier League game in 2025/26.
Amorim is in danger of abandoning the essence of Man United, unless he does unearth a gem in the near future…
Who the next Man Utd academy breakout star could be
It’s fair to say that the dismal penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town has provided a further obstacle to game time for United’s rising stars, with Amorim having little time nor need to rotate his starting lineup right now.
That has ensured that 20-year-old centre-back Tyler Fredricson has drifted back into the background following that tough night at Blundell Park, with the club’s number 33 even returning to Under 21 action last week in order to get minutes under his belt.
Fredricson had been one of eight teenagers who formed part of a makeshift bench against Tottenham Hotspur last term, amid a first-team injury crisis, albeit with Obi the only one of those to take to the field during that 1-0 away defeat.
Victor Lindelof
284
Aston Villa
Chido Obi
8
Man Utd
Ayden Heaven
8
Man Utd
Harry Amass
7
Sheff Weds (loan)
Sekou Kone
0
Man Utd
Tyler Fredricson
3
Man Utd
Elyh Harrison
0
Shrewsbury (loan)
Jack Fletcher
0
Man Utd
Jack Moorhouse
0
Leyton Orient (loan)
Among that young group, the likes of Elyh Harrison, Jack Moorhouse and Harry Amass have since moved out on loan, while January arrival Ayden Heaven – still just 19 – has also yet to feature again since Grimsby.
If any of that bench is to make the breakthrough this term, it is likely to be the midfield duo of Jack Fletcher and Sekou Kone, albeit with the latter man having unfortunately seen his progress halted by a head injury earlier in the campaign.
Kone should be seen sooner rather than later at first-team level once he recovers, while hopes are also high in the long-term for 15-year-old wonderkid, JJ Gabriel, a player whom United fought tooth and nail to keep at the club.
Shea Lacey, too, remains a much discussed name at Carrington, as is versatile winger Bendito Mantato, although the starlet creating the most fuss right now appears to be 17-year-old, Jim Thwaites.
Man Utd's academy midfield solution
For one reason or another, Amorim simply does not view the aforementioned Mainoo as a suitable partner to Bruno Fernandes in central midfield, with reports suggesting that the England international could again push for an exit in January.
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So far this term, the Portuguese coach has flitted between the ageing Casemiro and the much-maligned Manuel Ugarte as Fernandes’ partner, albeit with neither man seemingly providing a long-term solution.
Indeed, at 33 and now into the final year of his contract, Casemiro’s days are numbered at Old Trafford. As for Ugarte, the man who was an unused substitute in the Europa League final has yet to convince under his former Sporting CP boss, described as “not good enough” by club legend Gary Neville following the Manchester derby.
A solution, both in the short-term and long-term, needs to be found, with it worth considering handing an opportunity to young Thwaites before too long, amid the teenager’s sparkling displays in the youth ranks.
Lauded as a “cheat code” by one academy expert, the promising Englishman has already trained with Amorim’s first-team set-up, after scoring twice in six U18 Premier League games so far in 2025/26.
With 16 goals and assists in 44 recorded games in total for United at that age group, as per Transfermarkt, Thwaites has showcased his forward-thinking quality, even while typically lining up in a deep-lying midfield role.
There may be concerns over his slight frame and stature, although the Bolton-born sensation could look to a figure like Scholes for inspiration, with the 718-game genius having hardly been a physical specimen himself when bursting onto the scene as a teenager.
That link to Scholes can also be seen in Thwaites’ much lauded technical prowess, with reports this week outlining that comparisons are being made between the teenager and Barcelona superstar, Pedri – a man described as Scholes’ “new favourite footballer” last month.
More in the mould of Scholes in his latter years than in the early days, with regard to his positional deployment, Thwaites is the man to dictate the tempo in the centre of the park, regularly receiving the ball in between the two centre-backs.
At ease on the ball and at driving out from the back, the talented number six has that gift for being able to glide past his opponent, having also been recognised as one of the ‘best technical talents in the academy’.
A player who has already caught the eye of Amorim by all accounts, Thwaites must certainly not be rushed into the first-team fold, yet at a time when the midfield department appears to be crying out for a fresh injection, he could well be the wildcard solution.
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