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Talented 18-year-old striker Ethan Wheatley just may be the latest youth product to have a go at the first team, having properly impressed in the U21s and U18s.
The young centre forward is extremely talented with lethal finishing ability. He is already on 15 goals for the season and 4 assists in all competitions.
His exploits have not gone unnoticed, and United recently rewarded him his first professional contract in January.
He has repaid this faith with 5 goals in the last 4 games, including a brace in the U18 Premier League Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace.
Erik ten Hag has already shown a willingness to trust our youth system, pushing youngsters like Alejandro Garnacho and recent breakout Kobbie Mainoo who is just sensational.
Neither of these lads is 20 yet, and they already have been one of the first names on the team sheet without fail this season.
The Dutch gaffer has also given some game time to young defender Willy Kambwala even throwing him in the derby in place of a struggling Jonny Evans.
He has also handed Premier League debuts to Omari Forson and Dan Gore showing lots of faith in youth.
This is in line with the 3 pillars of the clubs’ motto: Youth, Courage, Success.
This motto has driven the club for decades and given us players like Marcus Rashford and who can forget the class of ’92 that boasted of world beaters including: Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers.
The trust Sir Alex showed these boys was returned a hundredfold with the service and success they brought to the club for the next 15+ years.
Erik ten Hag believes even more and more of the academy talent can break into his first team.
“You assess the potential of the player. We were convinced of those players and I think we still have, in the back of our squad, such young players who can also make those steps, like Kobbie and Garnacho, who have also made in the last couple of months.” Erik commented in reference to Mainoo and Garnacho while speaking before the Luton game a few weeks ago.
