Erik ten Hag is reportedly set to give academy graduate Shola Shoretire more first-team opportunities at Manchester United.
United have a rich history of naturing academy talent and that tradition has survived decades when other aspects of the clubs have changed for the worse.
There are hundreds of staff that work tirelessly at United and some are tasked with defining and shaping young players' futures every day. United's unrivalled record of producing players is a testament to their brilliant work.
The 18-year-old midfielder was a regular for the club’s Under-23s team last season, scoring seven goals in 22 appearances, but he has only featured once for the senior side..
The Nigerian eligible winger has already impressed Ten Hag in pre-season training, and the Red Devils boss has questioned why the English youth international has not featured more regularly in the first team.
Teenage starlets Hannibal Mejbri and Alejandro Garnacho are also understood to have caught Ten Hag’s eye this summer, and with United yet to put their stamp on the transfer market, a number of their young prospects could be promoted to the senior side for the 2022-23 campaign.
Shola Shoretire has played in a different position.
The U18s' FA Youth Cup triumph earlier this week was also proof of that. The club has been starved of success at first-team level over the last decade and the youngsters' excellent Youth Cup campaign was a much needed positive in a dark season.
Shoretire Senior Team Experience
Ralf Rangnick handed Charlie Savage and Zidan Iqbal their debuts against BSC Young Boys in December and Shola Shoretire also made an appearance in that game. It was a memorable night for all three, but it wasn't the first taste of European football for the latter.
Shoretire actually made his first-team debut back in February 2022 against Newcastle in the Premier League.
The eligible Nigerian then played against Real Sociedad in the Europa. When he came on as the final substitute on that occasion, he made United history by becoming the youngest player to appear for the club in European competition.
Shoretire was incredibly just 17 years and 23 days old. That made headlines and the youngster was named the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year for 2020/21 soon after, which was the perfect way to round off his campaign full of promise
The United lad has eight goals and 10 assists this term and he's been instrumental in United's U23s enjoying a strong season in the Premier League.
Shoretire Individual Abilities
His vision and quick feet make him a genuinely difficult proposition for defenders to contend with and it's interesting that he's been able to play deeper at a time when the club urgently needs midfielders - it's become a problem area at the club.
Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba departure have make space available in the squad. United are expected to act swiftly to sign a new defensive midfielder in the like of Frankie De Jong.