The midfielder who assisted a late Premier League winner, a youth team captain who scrapped with Martial… and the sons of Darren Fletcher! Man United’s next generation of talent after the emergence of Mainoo and Garnacho
In a season of ups and downs for Manchester United, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo have been a constant source of optimism for a brighter future at Old Trafford.
The teenage pair have enjoyed a memorable journey into senior football at United – who travel to Aston Villa on Sunday – after both players made their debuts last season and have since gone on to become mainstays in the United first-team set up.
Each player has had their ‘wow’ moment after breaking through this season, with Garnacho scoring an inch perfect bicycle kick at Everton while Mainoo scored an incredibly worked goal away at Wolves to clinch a 4-3 thriller – to the delirium of the United supporters at Molineux.
And it’s not just the first team where the duo have stamped their mark. They were both instrumental in helping Man Utd win the FA Youth Cup back in 2022, the club’s first since 2011.
With Garnacho and Mainoo bringing back some confidence in United’s youth system – one that produced some of the best talent in the world – Mail Sport has taken a look through the next batch of youngsters who could be next to burst on the scene at Manchester United.
With Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho impressing for United this season, Mail Sport has taken a look at the next batch of talent at Old Trafford
The Argentine youngster’s bicycle kick against Everton could already be the goal of the season
Mainoo was decisive against Wolves and hauled Man United to a 4-3 victory at Molineux
Omari Forson
Age: 19
Position: Midfielder
Forson became the latest player to emerge from the academy to play in the first-team when he made his debut in a 2-0 win against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup third round at the beginning of January.
And things got better for the young creative midfielder as he made the most of a four-minute cameo late in the game against Wolves – making a crucial assist to set up old youth team-mate Mainoo for a dramatic last minute winner to secure the win at Molineux.
A player who can play either as an attacking midfielder or out in the wing, he has been making waves at youth level having scored eight times for the U21’s last season.
His superb form – coupled with his quick impact in the Premier League this season – will have done his chances of future first team appearances absolutely no harm.
Forson, who spent time in London as a youngster at West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur before joining the club back in 2019, could still be on the move with his contract coming up in the summer.
Omari Forson made a quick impact in the Premier League after coming on late against Wolves
Joe Hugill
Age: 20
Position: Forward
Currently out on-loan at Burton Albion, the young forward was also part of the team that won the FA Youth Cup back in 2022 where he was crucial in getting the team to the final by being a prolific goalscorer.
The Durham-born player was previously at both Newcastle United and Sunderland before joining the United youth set-up back in 2020, where his career has continued to skyrocket ever since.
He earned himself a loan move to Altrincham last year and has most recently been sent on a separate move to Burton Albion.
The young player is known for being a deadly finisher and is wasting no time getting up and running at Burton – having scored his first goal three minutes on his debut against Derby County in League One.
Having extended his contract until 2026 with an option of an extra year, Hugill is looking to kick on whilst on-loan and look to get even more valuable experience in senior before coming back to the club for pre-season in the summer.
Joe Hugill is known as a deadly finisher, scoring just three minutes into his Burton Albion debut
Willy Kambwala
Age: 19
Position: Defender
Having made his debut against West Ham to help with the injury crisis at centre-back, the young French defender is hoping to build on from his debut for Manchester United in December to hopefully become a mainstay at the back in the near future.
The young French defender born in DR Congo certainly impressed many people with his performance during his 84 minutes on the pitch, despite United losing 2-0 to the Hammers at the London Stadium – partnering the experienced Jonny Evans.
The young player is known for his speed and leadership qualities and with United struggling for consistency at the back, the introduction of Kambwala into the team late last year could prove to be pivotal in adding quality in the area in the long-term.
This year Kambwala claimed United are the only club he has ever wanted to play for, telling their official website: ‘The dream was about Man United,’ he said. ‘And that’s it. No other club.
‘That’s the dream I had. So, to be here, was just so special to me because it was the thing I wanted.’
Willy Kambwala made his first team debut in a 2-0 loss to West Ham but was able to impress
Tyler Fredricson
Age: 18
Position: Defender
With the centre-half turning 19 in December, Fredricson is another player at centre-half that has a potential to push to be part of the first-team squad in the not too distant future.
The local Manchester boy started all of the games in the lead up to the FA Youth Cup final back in 2022 and has earned himself an U17 cap for England in the process.
Fredricson signed his first professional contract with the club in the same year – which was the first deal United did after appointing Ten Hag.
It’s clear the defender has impressed the Dutchman after being one of a select group of youngster invited to train with the first team.
And having made the bench for the United senior side last season in the Europa League, it won’t be long before he gets some game time in the near future.
Tyler Fredricson (far right) has trained with the first team on a number of occasions
Dan Gore
Age: 19
Position: Midfielder
Having joined Port Vale on-loan until the end of the season, Gore is another player from the Youth Cup winning team to look out for in the near future.
The 19 year-old – who was captain of United’s UEFA Youth League side this season – made his competitive debut against Crystal Palace in the League Cup back in December having caught the eye of Ten Hag for his leadership qualities, as well as his very good technical abilities and strong ball carrying qualities.
The England youth international is looking to further develop himself away from Old Trafford and hopefully add to the few first-team appearances he has already to break through in the United midfield in the near future.
Dan Gore is one of United’s highest-rated youngsters, captaining the UEFA Youth League side this season
Now on loan at Port Vale, Gore (left) infamously got into a training ground spat with Anthony Martial (right) in 2022
Aside from being a highly-rated star with technical ability, Gore has also shown he will not shy away from a scrap after being involved a heated moment with first-team star Anthony Martial during a training session in 2022.
Martial was said to have been on the receiving end of a strong tackle from Gore, with the Frenchman retaliating – and Gore refusing to back down.
The pair had to be pulled apart, though Martial is understood to have apologised to the youngster later on.
Honourable mention – Fletcher Twins
Twins Jack and Tyler Fletcher, the sons of former player Darren Fletcher are also on the radar to break through at Old Trafford.
Having joined from Man City in the summer, the teenagers have impressed in the U18’s and been instrumental in helping their team win all 14 games in the league so far.
Manchester United legend Darren Fletcher’s sons Jack and Tyler joined from Man City this summer
The Fletcher boys could become the latest brother pair to play for the first team after Gary and Phil Neville, plus Rafael and Fabio and Michael and Will Keane.
Tyler has been capped at U16 level by Scotland while Jack represents England.
They came up against one another in February, with Jack, who fufills a similar midfield role to the one his father played during an illustrious career, taking the spoils in a 3-0 Auld Enemy win.
