It’s not been two years since Manchester United beat Nottingham Forest in the FA Youth Cup final in front of almost 67,500 fans at Old Trafford.
In that short space of time, Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho have become first-team regulars under Erik ten Hag and made valuable contributions this season.
After Garnacho scored twice at Stamford Bridge last week, Mainoo struck a beautiful curler against Liverpool in Sunday’s 2-2 draw.
Daniel Gore and Omari Forson, also in the matchday squad against Warren Joyce’s Forest Under-18s, made their senior United bow in 2023/24.
One thing that is for certain is playing in front of that bumper crowd in 2022 helped to accelerate the youngsters’ development. The demands of performing in such an environment is impossible to replicate, without the participation of our wonderful supporters.
Mainoo acknowledged the impact it had on him during his Fans’ Q&A interview at Carrington, due to be published on Wednesday, detailing just how much that Old Trafford occasion helped prepare him for what was to follow.
“Definitely, the final did [really help me] because it was the final and it was definitely a bit overwhelming because we walked out and I was like, what is it, 67,000 people or something?” he said.
“So that definitely helped get to gauge a bit of what it would be like.”
In terms of the next generation of United youngsters hoping to make their breakthrough, this is where you can come in.
Harry Amass enjoyed his maiden senior Reds call-up to sit on the bench against Liverpool, alongside Habeeb Ogunneye and Forson. And there are other promising prospects within the system, as evidenced in the remarkable 9-1 away victory over Liverpool for Adam Lawrence’s table-topping Under-18s on Saturday.
The Under-21s played on Monday against Brighton & Hove Albion, drawing 1-1, and are in action again on Friday – against our fiercest rivals, Liverpool, at Old Trafford.
The 19:30 BST kick-off presents a great opportunity to take the family to the Theatre of Dreams to see potential stars of tomorrow go head to head.
Get your tickets here for only £3 for adults and £1.50 for under 16s.
And the entertaining Under-18s are in action in the Premier League Cup final, against Manchester City, at Leigh Sports Village on Tuesday 23 April, starting at 19:30 BST.
Free tickets for that local derby, with silverware up for grabs, are available here.
Please get along to cheer the boys on and play your part!
