United duo join select group of players, marking exactly 12 years from the last time

Manchester United’s significant injury problems and the absence of players on Africa Cup of Nations duty mean that there have been a couple of youthful benches over the last games. Youthful benches Academy players Shea Lacey, Jack and Tyler Fletcher, Tyler Fredricson, and Bendito Mantato were all on the bench yesterday. Lacey and Jack Fletcher both made their debuts against Aston Villa last Sunday, with Fletcher getting 45 minutes against Newcastle United after replacing the injured Mason Mount on Boxing Day. With a packed Christmas schedule, more of these youngsters are likely to feature against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United in the new year. Not the first twins though Whilst Jack and Tyler Fletcher have made the news due to being the sons of current under-18 head coach and former player Darren Fletcher, United have had twins in their matchday squad before. The club’s official website reports that, “Manchester United have included two brothers in a Premier League matchday squad for the first time since 2012.” The site also adds that, “remarkably, it is exactly the same date as the last occasion, also 26 December (Boxing Day), in 2013.” “Brazilian twins Rafael and Fabio were selected by Sir Alex Ferguson for a 3-2 win at Hull City.” United also included Michael and Will Keane in a League Cup tie at Aldershot a couple of years earlier. Gary and Phil Neville are also famous brothers who played for the club. Although they are not twins as Gary is two years older than his brother. Tyler Fletcher will be champing at the bit to make his debut so both twins will have played for the club like the Da Silva and Keane brothers. Twins to play for Man United NameAppearancesGoalsYears Active Rafael Da Silva17052008-2015 Fabio Da Silva5632008-2013 Michael Keane502011-2014 Will Keane302011-2016 Jack Fletcher202023- Tyler Fletcher002023- The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Latest Top Stories… Alex Browne Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.