Ruben Amorim may struggle to promote many academy players this season after inheriting a bloated Manchester United squad from Erik ten Hag, worries Lee Sharpe. The former Red Devils winger believes the club’s youth players may need to adapt to Amorim’s play style before getting a chance in the first team.
United have historically stood among Europe’s leading elite when it comes to utilising youth talent. Last season, Ethan Wheatley became the club’s 250th academy graduate.
Toby Collyer made his competitive debut against Manchester City in the Community Shield to become the 251st, but that total hasn’t risen since.
Amorim has taken a closer look at multiple academy stars since taking charge, including 16-year-old defender Godwill Kukonki.
However, a flurry of injury returns has allowed the Portuguese tactician to fill his bench with senior players, limiting opportunities.
And Sharpe believes that’s how the situation will stay for the remainder of the season, especially while Amorim is drilling his new philosophy into United’s senior players.
“I know they’ve got a couple of forwards who everyone’s raving about and a couple of other players that are just on the fringes of the first team,” Sharpe told Express Sport.
“It’s always important at United. It’s important to have a manager who encourages the youth set-up to come through and give young players a chance. But I’m not sure.
“In his first season with the in-depth squad he’s got, looking at the bench, there won’t be too many new faces coming through this season unless, of course, they fit into the system that he wants to play.
“I don’t know whether that’s going to be an easy thing for him because United have never really played three at the back and played wing-backs.
“So I’m sure there’s a couple of holding midfielders that he might want to look at and a couple of forwards.
“But as far as wing-backs and centre-halves that can play in a three, I think the whole group of players – from the Under-16s and Under-18s upwards – all may have to look at changing the way they approach games.”
United have an embarrassment of riches in development on the Carrington pitches, particularly in the club’s dominant U18 side.
Prospects including Chido Obi Martin, Amir Ibragimov, Shea Lacey, and Jayce Fitzgerald have sparked excitement en masse.
But they may have to wait a little longer to make their mark on the first team while Amorim lays the foundations of his long-term plan.