Man United U19s boss Adam Lawrence provides Sekou Kone update after UEFA Youth League debut

Manchester United’s under-19s manager Adam Lawrence has spoken on Sekou Kone following his second appearance for the club’s academy.

Sekou Kone made his debut for Manchester United’s Under-21s side last weekend and was described as ‘really bright’ by Travis Binnion.

The Mali midfielder was signed from his home country in the summer for a reported £1 million in a deal that was led by interim director of recruitment Christopher Vivell.

It has been claimed that Kone is viewed to be a first-team player in the near future but has initially started out in the Academy due to various factors.

He did not have a pre-season in the summer and also spent his first few weeks in Manchester getting used to his surroundings in a new country and culture.

Now he is back playing on the pitch and has made his debut for the club’s Under-19s side in the UEFA Youth League.

After travelling away and winning the away leg 5-2 last month, the young Reds won 6-0 in their home leg against FK Žalgiris U19s on Wednesday evening to progress with ease.

Kone was brought on at half-time in the Leigh Sports Village affair and made a positive impression on the game.

Speaking after full-time, Under-19s boss Adam Lawrence was asked about the 18-year-old and his time at the club so far.

“Obviously, when you arrive at this club you just want to be playing football and getting on the pitch [to] put on the Man United shirt and show people what you can do,” Lawrence told club reporters.

“He has had to be patient, and it is rightly so that we’ve built him up slowly but he’s starting to get a couple of games under his belt now.

“He’s picking up a bit of England and we’re picking up a bit of French, so we’re trying to work it both ways.”

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