Six Manchester United Academy stars who could debut this season after Rúben Amorim’s “they will play” claim

As many as six Manchester United Academy players could make their debuts this season after Rúben Amorim admitted that many will get game time this campaign.

Rúben Amorim named eight Manchester United Academy players on the bench as the club fell to a 1-0 defeat against Tottenham on Sunday afternoon.

Although many fans hoped to see some of their young talents get first-team minutes, Amorim refused to play any of them until the dying moments, when Chido Obi stepped onto the field in injury time without getting a touch of the ball.

After the game, Amorim explained that he wants to protect the young players, but that he is sure they will get their chances to play before the close of the season.

“This is the hardest competition [the Premier League] in the world,” he stated to the press. “I am trying to be careful with them. I felt the team was pushing for the goal and I felt I don’t want to change.

“But they will play, they have to be ready. You try to read the game, you try to understand what you see in training. I felt the team were pushing for the goal and I didn’t feel the need to change.”

Following debut minutes for Obi, we have listed six Academy players who may make their debuts under Amorim before the end of the season.

James Scanlon (18)

James Scanlon has been fantastic for United since he joined the club’s Academy from Derby County in 2023.

A fierce attacking midfielder, Scanlon recently scored a brace against Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup and is already a full Gibraltar international. He scored eight times in 19 games for the U18s in 2023/24 during their title-winning campaign. He also made 16 appearances for the Under-21s as he was a regular across the two teams.

Gabriele Biancheri (18)

Gabriele Biancheri is a talismanic Welsh striker who joined the club from Cardiff City two years ago and scored 17 goals in 27 appearances for the U18s during their triumphant 2023/24 campaign.

This season, he has netted 16 goals in 19 games but has been out with a hand injury, although he made his return earlier this month. United recently rejected a transfer off from Como 1907 for the player, and with Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee failing to score, he may make an appearance alongside Obi in the coming months.

Jack Fletcher (17)

Son of former United player and current Rúben Amorim staff member Darren Fletcher, Jack Fletcher joined the club from Manchester City in July 2023 and has become a fantastic midfielder in the process, appearing on the bench against Tottenham.

While Obi and Biancheri have made headlines with their goals this season, Fletcher has been a general in the middle of the park in the last few months, and with Mainoo out of action until the end of March, Fletcher may be handed minutes.

Harry Amass (17)

Unlike the others on this list, many United fans will be more familiar with Harry Amass after his great performances at left-back in pre-season under Erik ten Hag. Amid problems with Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia’s injuries, Amass has been in and around United’s first team training sessions often this season.

With Malacia now on loan and Shaw more likely to be used as a left centre-back when he returns due to Lisandro Martínez’s injury, Amass may see minutes before the campaign as a deputy to Patrick Dorgu as a left wing-back.

Sekou Kone (19)

Sekou Kone’s situation is a little different from other Academy players after he joined United from Malian side Guidars FC for a fee of around £1 million, as he was put into the Academy to adjust to life in England before making the step up to the first team.

Read More: Rúben Amorim can build an entire injured Manchester United XI – It may be better than the team that faced Tottenham

With United faltering in midfield, as mentioned above, Kone may be more likely than Fletcher to become increasingly involved in the first-team squad, especially after rave reviews following a brilliant performance against Tottenham U21s last wek.

Jack Moorhouse (19)

Jack Moorhouse is known to have impressed Amorim back in December 2024 after a stunning performance against Southampton U18s during a 5-1 win with the Academy.

A versatile and intense forward, Moorhouse has been likened to Premier League breakout star Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa and could be an option to fill the gap left by Amad’s injury in the right attacking position.

However, he also excels deeper on the pitch, with United’s club website stating Moorhouse is a “midfielder who works hard in the engine room.”

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