Manchester United’s under-18s secured an impressive 8-2 win over QPR on the weekend and one impressive talent managed to score a wonder-goal.
With the Manchester United first-team back in pre-season training and preparing for friendly games, the club’s under-18s side have already started getting back on the pitch and impressing.
After a training camp in Germany, mixed with U18s and U21s players, the young Reds returned to Carrington and have played a pre-season clash.
In recent years, a lot of excitement has come from the youth teams, the U18s in particular, at Old Trafford during the first-team’s failures. In 2022, they won the FA Youth Cup and another three trophies came in 2023/24.
Last term, while the U18s did not take home any silverware, they provided some amazing performances and pushed rivals Manchester City to the final game in the title race.
Heading towards the new season, it looks like plenty of youngsters are set to get their opportunities in the U18s and they have certainly made a good start.
United starlet scores wonder-goal in 8-2 win vs QPR
United are never shy to introduce young talents to their U18s side, with player progression valued much higher than keeping players at that level so that the team is stronger.
During a pre-season friendly against QPR on Saturday afternoon, most of the squad was 16 or younger and there were a few 14-year-old’s involved.
AcademyScoop revealed that the scoreline in this game ended up being 8-2, with goals coming from all areas of the pitch.
Jay McEvoy, Louie Bradbury, Amir Ibragimov, JJ Gabriel, Edward Ibrovic-Fletcher (x2), Douka Nkoto and Bassirou Nkoto all found the back of the net.
Gabriel, who broke records by becoming the youngest-ever United player to receive a first-team shirt number, stunned supporters with his goal.
The 14-year-old managed to win the ball back with a perfectly-timed slide tackle before driving towards goal, finding space and curling an effort into the far corner, with his father uploading the clip onto social media.
Fletcher set for U18s job
United’s U18s have been exceptional under the leadership of Adam Lawrence but he is moving on for a new opportunity away from the club this summer.
It is reported that Darren Fletcher could take the manager’s job as he looks to advance in his coaching career after spending a lot of time focused on the pathway to the first-team for these talents.
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Fletcher might be the perfect man to help see many of these players progress as he is already aware of all of them and their abilities.
The Scotsman certainly wouldn’t have a difficult time fielding a strong team, with so many exciting talents for fans to keep an eye on when next season begins.
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