Man Utd’s five most promising wonderkids including ‘little Xavi or Iniesta’ Galbraith and Hannibal Mejbri
MANCHESTER UNITED are always on the lookout for top talent and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has a plethora of young stars emerging from the club’s academy. Mason Greenwood, Brandon Williams and Dean Henderson have all made the step up to the first-team in recent times. And there are plenty more wonderkids on the way, from technical […]
MANCHESTER UNITED are always on the lookout for top talent and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has a plethora of young stars emerging from the club’s academy.
Mason Greenwood, Brandon Williams and Dean Henderson have all made the step up to the first-team in recent times.
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And there are plenty more wonderkids on the way, from technical playmakers to sturdy centre-backs.
Here, SunSport looks at the top five United starlets to get excited about.
Ethan Galbraith (centre-midfield, 19)
The Red Devils have bred a number of powerhouse central midfielders over the years and Galbraith, who made his debut for club and country last year, may be the latest.
The Northern-Irishman joined the club in 2017 and has already been praised for his control and vision on the ball.
Northern Ireland boss Ian Baraclough recently said: “Ethan, over the last six months, we’ve seen a maturity in his play and the way he goes about his work day to day.
“Not to put too much pressure on his shoulders, but he’s our little Iniesta or Xavi.”
Teden Mengi (centre-back, 18)
While Galbraith remains with the Under-23s, defender Mengi has already made the senior side’s bench four times this season.
Described as a late bloomer, the Manchester-born ace only joined in 2018 and was quickly promoted to captain the U18s.
All things considered, Mengi is a bit of a speedster and, after a debut in May, he earned rave reviews for leading the U23s to a 6-0 win over League Two Salford in the EFL Trophy.
He said after that September rout: “For me I am not looking too far ahead just working as hard as I can.
“I look at the next game and the game after that and if the opportunity comes, it comes.”
Ethan Laird (right-back, 19)
Aaron Wan-Bissaka may have the right-back slot locked down for years to come but teenage prospect Laird could be one to provide some extra competition.
Solskjaer gave the 19-year-old two runouts in the Europa League last season having impressed at U23 level.
A United player since the age of nine, England U19 international Laird signed a new contract to 2023 earlier this year.
However he will have to overcome a difficult year in terms of injuries, one which he admitted to be “sulking” about when the problems first arose.
James Garner (centre-midfield, 19)
Garner was the first of these wonderkids to make the United bench, doing so in January of last year, and is currently on loan at Watford.
Red Devils fans are hoping to get a good look at the playmaker from his stint at Vicarage Road, with Tom Cleverley one former United prodigy who enjoyed his spell with the Hornets.
Watford boss Vladimir Ivic has played the 19-year-old in each of the nine Championship games since he arrived, saying in September: “He is one of the most talented players in England.
“He is a quality player with the ball, he knows how to move the ball fast and he thinks fast which is very important.”
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Hannibal Mejbri (attacking midfield, 17)
As a £9million signing at just 17, there is a lot of pressure on Mejbri’s shoulders.
But the Frenchman will be just fine if his at-ease style on the pitch is anything to go by.
An effortlessly classy attacking midfielder, he first set fans’ pulses racing with a delightful assist in the aforementioned rout of Salford.
And he added to his portfolio with a tasty outside-of-the-boot finish in the U23’s 5-2 win over Brighton on Friday.
Our #MUAcademy U23s currently lead Brighton 2-0 after goals from Shola Shoretire and this Hannibal effort in the first half!
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 6, 2020#MUFC