James Scanlon scored twice for Manchester United U18s vs ChelseaJames Scanlon scored twice for Manchester United U18s vs Chelsea
James Scanlon scored twice for Manchester United U18s vs Chelsea | Getty Images
Man Utd booked their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup in midweek.
Winning trophies is not the measure of success at youth level, but that doesn't mean Manchester United aren't hungry to add another FA Youth Cup to their collection this time around.
United's U18s are into the quarter-finals of the competition once again after they came from behind to defeat Chelsea 5-1 in midweek. Chido Obi-Martin took home the match ball after his clinical hat-trick, though he is not the only talented teenager with first-team aspirations.
Of the United team that last won the trophy back in 2022, four of them went on to make senior debuts. Dan Gore, Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Charlie McNeill. Whatever happens next, it would be no surprise if a similar number of the current crop went on to make the grade in the years ahead. Obi-Martin is the obvious choice, but there is another more experienced forward who is becoming harder to ignore.
Read More
'Plausible target' - Man Utd 'track' nine-goal striker who has two things Ruben Amorim loves
Manchester United star changes agency ahead of summer transfer window
Manchester United wonderkid Chido Obi-Martin is about to show Arsenal what they are missing
Scanlon in the senior spotlight
James Scanlon is not the most exciting name in the academy right now, but he is arguably the most notable. At the age of 18, he already has 10 full international appearances to his name with Gibraltar and will be back in action for them when their World Cup qualification begins next month. He might never make as many senior United appearances as he has already done at international level, though he should at least get a taste of the senior spotlight after another impressive individual campaign.
The winger scored the other two goals against Chelsea in the Youth Cup win this week, taking his tally to 14 goals and five assists from just 19 appearances this season. It is an even more impressive feat when you remember he is a wideman rather than the main focal point in attack.
Scanlon signed his first professional deal last summer and was involved in the pre-season schedule under Erik ten Hag, but he also looks the ideal fit for Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese head coach loves versatile forwards and there are few at the club capable of playing out wide and inside quite as well as the teenager.
The caveat is the level he has performed at. The U18s is an unreliable gauge of talent given the imbalanced resources and Scanlon has only played twice for the U21s this season. He is highly rated by club coaches yet training ground sources have been 'perplexed at his lack of promotion to a higher age-group' when he is already playing full international football.
Having already trained with the first team on several occasions, a loan exit could be the next logical step for Scanlon at the end of the season, but he could be given an opportunity before that as United's hopes of Premier League redemption gradually fade. Even if he does not go on to become a first-team regular, a debut would significantly boost his profile at a time when the club is increasingly aware of the benefit of selling academy products.
With finances tight and internal solutions required, Scanlon could be an answer, in more ways than one.
READ NEXT:Ruben Amorim can unleash his new strongest Manchester United line up for the first time vs Tottenham