Surprise 17yo United academy wonderkid receives last-minute call-up for Spurs game – report

Manchester United have been hit by a sudden injury crisis ahead of their crucial Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Amad Diallo is set to miss the rest of the season after picking up an ankle injury during training. And Ruben Amorim will also be without three midfielders for Sunday’s game.

Kobbie Mainoo will be unavailable for a few weeks while Toby Collyer and Manuel Ugarte are also set to miss the game against Spurs.

In this desperate time, the head coach has been forced to look to the club’s famed academy and five of Carrington’s finest have travelled to London for the game.

Academy call-ups

As relayed by The Peoples Person, Chido Obi, Sekou Kone, Jack Moorhouse, Harry Amass and Elyh Harrison have all made the trip to the capital.

Given the obvious gaps in midfield, there were talks of James Scanlon also being included given his great form for the academy sides this season.

I’m told Jack Fletcher has also travelled to London with Ruben Amorim’s squad.

James Scanlon has not travelled despite reports suggesting otherwise. https://t.co/qJpq78b2Zf pic.twitter.com/0cidjNyrG9

— SCOOP. (@AcademyScoop) February 16, 2025

But Scoop, a reliable source of information on the academy, has revealed that Scanlon has not made the journey and instead Amorim has picked Jack Fletcher for the match against the North London side.

“I’m told Jack Fletcher has also travelled to London with Ruben Amorim’s squad. James Scanlon has not travelled despite reports suggesting otherwise,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Jack, son of former United midfielder and current coach Darren, is an attacking midfielder by trade and has excelled for both the U19s and U21s this season.

Jack Fletcher in contention

The 17-year-old has five goals and six assists this term and his passing quality and intelligence seems to have caught Amorim’s eye.

He has already been on the first team bench earlier in the season when Erik ten Hag was in charge. Given United’s obvious dearth of quality, he has a great chance of making his Premier League debut for the club.

Told James Scanlon isn’t part of the travelling first team squad today.

He’s trained this morning with the U21s and is looking at being involved against Fulham tomorrow night #mufc

— Nathan Salt (@NathSalt1) February 16, 2025

As for Scanlon, despite his red-hot form, United seem to be planning to use him more in the U21 set-up for now as revealed by Nathan Salt of The Daily Mail.

“Told James Scanlon isn’t part of the travelling first team squad today. He’s trained this morning with the U21s and is looking at being involved against Fulham tomorrow night.”

He deserves more opportunities because he has made the academy level look very easy and his absence is quite surprising give his knack for finding the back of the net.

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