Manchester United have called up four youth team players to first team training this week.
The Red Devils are preparing for a busy month which will see them face three Champions League contenders in under two weeks when they take on Nottingham Forest, Manchester City and Newcastle United.
There is also the rather huge matter of a Europa League quarter-final with Olympique Lyonnais on the horizon.
The Manchester Evening News report that “Manchester United called-up youth team players Godwill Kukonki, Reece Munro, Jim Thwaites and Bendito Mantato to first-team training on Friday as they returned to action after the international break.”
There was further good news as Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw also made returns to the grass.
Fellow under 18 stars Chido Obi and Harry Amass, who made his senior debut at Leicester City earlier this month, also took part in training.
Kukonki has already impressed Ruben Amorim enough to be included in a couple of matchday squads earlier in the season.
Back in December, Amorim claimed that the 17 year old was “ready” for the Premier League and he is expected to sign his first professional deal with the club soon.
Reece Munro has also been in impressive form and the 18 year old has already scored a goal in United’s run to the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup, where they will face Aston Villa on Monday next week.
Thwaites has also been an ever-present in the United under 18’s midfield as he has scored five goals and provided three assists in 18 under 18 Premier League matches.
Finally, Bendito Mantato is reportedly very highly rated around the corridors of Old Trafford and there is talk that he is in line to make his senior debut before the end of the season in May.
He is also set to sign his first professional deal at the club next week as a reward for his fantastic displays which included a match-winning strike against Arsenal in the quarter-final of the Youth Cup.
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
