Wheatley should leave on loan.
Wheatley should leave on loan.
Ethan Wheatley made his Manchester United senior debut against Sheffield United in April. Wheatley wrote himself into the club's history books by becoming the 250th player from the academy to make a senior bow but he will want to be remembered for more than that.
Wheatley started for the Under-19s against AZ Alkmaar in the UEFA Youth League on Tuesday and his next steps must have crossed his mind as he entered an almost empty Old Trafford. Around 300 supporters braved the cold to attend the game and Wheatley was the only youngster on the pitch who knows what playing in front of a sold-out Old Trafford feels like.
Wheatley will want more of that feeling. Playing at Old Trafford is special regardless, but performing in front of a sell-out crowd is a unique opportunity for academy players and Wheatley might have to push for a loan in the January transfer window to continue making inroads to the first-team.
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Ruben Amorim wasn't among the United club staff who attended Old Trafford and a source has admitted he's not had a chance to watch an academy fixture due to his busy schedule. The presence of Amorim would have given Wheatley an added incentive to impress against AZ but his reputation remains high among academy coaches following a promising 2024.
Wheatley also didn't have too much to feed off against AZ. The Dutch side flew out of the traps and created two great chances within the first few minutes, but the game settled into a steady rhythm and United's best chance of the first 45 minutes fell to the head of Amir Ibragimov.
For context, Ibragimov has heart in abundance but was the smallest player in a red shirt. His header was tame and it might have been a different story if Wheatley had connected.
United's coaches felt Wheatley massively improved last season and really stepped up in quality, which made a debut possible, and staff were also happy with how he adapted to playing across multiple teams - U18s, Under-21s and first-team - and multiple different competitions.
Wheatley grew into his body after what a source described as 'diligent work in the gym' with strength and conditioning coaches and Travis Binnion said he had the perfect No.9 frame.
AZ are renowned for developing players in the Netherlands and their U19s are a physical side. Their players looked to have a height advantage but Wheatley was the anomaly for United.
Wheatley has physically matured but there are still aspects he needs to improve, which is the case for any youngster, and that was highlighted in the second half when he powerfully burst toward the Stretford End and lost the ball when he could have beaten his man and produced a shot.
United were still searching for a breakthrough at that stage and the game was goalless. United goalkeeper William Murdock had made two superb saves at the beginning of the match to deny AZ from taking an early lead and neither side looked capable of producing a decisive moment.
Wheatley was working off scraps and looked frustrated when the hour mark arrived. He will benefit from a loan in January and should be among those at the front of the queue to leave.
AZ won 2-1 in the first leg of the tie and United needed a goal, otherwise they would crash out of a competition which they earned qualification for by winning a treble last season.
Chido Obi-Martin was introduced from the bench for the final 10 minutes. Obi-Martin and Gabriele Biancheri replaced Wheatley and Jaydan Kamason and the changes represented the last throw of the dice from Adam Lawrence as his side inched close to exiting the Youth League.
AZ defended brilliantly throughout the game and not even Obi-Martin could pull the rabbit from the hat. United's best player on the night was Murdock in between the sticks and it says a lot when your 'keeper is your best player. Nonetheless, Lawrence will still be proud of his players.
United only qualified for the competition because their U18s were the champions of England last season and that shouldn't be forgotten because it was a remarkable achievement.