Manchester United’s famed academy has always played host to some of the brightest talents to have graced the Premier League. Though the U-23s were relegated to the second division this season, United still have an amazing crop of starlets making the difficult way up to the first team.
Despite the fact that the first team has an exceptional brand of talent, there is always an opportunity around the corner for academy players to make a name for themselves. Jose Mourinho has given chances, and significantly, improved Jesse Lingard, who has undergone a transformation, is his playing style after regularly starting matches last season.
Lingard was a starter for the England national team in the recently concluded World Cup, and that is a clear testament to how the player has improved rapidly under Mourinho. Similarly, Scott McTominay emerged as a good midfield option last season, as the manager trusted him in big matches against the likes of Seville in the Champions League, and Chelsea and Liverpool in the Premier League too.
Hence, there are reasons to believe that certain lads from the academy could make the move up this season. Let us have a look at them:
Demetri Mitchell
As we enter the final few days of the transfer window, it appears as if Luke Shaw and Ashley Young would be the two options competing for the left-back spot.
However, if a crisis emerges midway through the season, Mourinho can always bank of Demetri Mitchell, who was also a part of United’s squad for the preseason. Mitchell possesses blistering pace and could provide an excellent offensive threat from the left flank.
He was used as a fullback against Liverpool in the preseason friendly, and Mitchell conceded a penalty owing to his erratic foul inside the box.
However, Mourinho’s immediate instruction followed and within a matter of minutes, Mitchell burst into the opposition half and earned a free kick in a promising position. His tenacity and the discipline to follow orders and work on them might convince Mourinho to hand him a chance or two this season.
Tahith Chong
The Dutch 18-year-old winger has shot to fame whilst playing for United’s youth teams, and naturally, there are high hopes from Tahith Chong. Capable of playing across the forward line, Chong is lightning quick and is a technically sound player, as his ball control and display of skills in closed areas make him a threatening factor as he makes his runs from the flanks or through the centre.
Moreover, his passing range is exceptional, as Chong regularly looks to make forward passes and that demonstrates his widespread vision, which might help the team create goal-scoring opportunities in abundance.
He has a mean left-foot which helps Chong deliver pinpoint crosses and he is not afraid to shoot from distance. Though it might be too early to make an appearance in the Premier League, he could be used in certain cup matches where United can afford to take the foot off the gas towards the end. Moreover, the Old Trafford faithful would be excited to see what the lad has to offer.
Andreas Pereira
It is surprising that Pereira hasn’t yet started a Premier League game for United, despite having joined the academy in 2012. However, the lad seems to have matured after his successive loan spells at Granada and Valencia and seems set to start the first Premier League match of the season against Leicester City.
Pereira is a versatile midfielder, as he can operate effectively from both deeper as well as advanced positions. His ability to win the ball back without much fuss, and then make accurate long-passes ahead will help the team break on the move.
Pereira’s tendency to always look for a forward pass will bring incisiveness to United’s midfield, and his set-piece abilities are not to be ignored either. He scored a sumptuous goal from a free kick against Liverpool in the pre-season friendly, and that indicates his ability to make the best use of dead-ball situations.
At this stage, Pereira almost looks like a new midfield signing, and he will certainly add some unique qualities to the current midfield setup.