The first team at Manchester United needs so many holes plugged that it flies under the radar how the academy has thrown up jewels every time the senior team has asked for one.
Even in the most difficult times, the tradition of Man Utd has shone through with youngsters coming into the first team and looking at home.
Most of the time, the pre-season is when youngsters get an extended opportunity to make an impression on the manager.
For one teenage Man Utd midfielder who’s been on the cusp of a first-team debut for what seems like an eternity, this pre-season is vital.
Jack Moorhouse of Manchester United (L) in action during the match between Manchester United and ASEAN All Stars, May 28, 2025
Photo by Annice Lyn/Manchester United via Getty Images
A long wait for Jack Moorhouse
Jack Moorhouse is a name that has been talked about for so long that Man Utd fans will almost have unrealistic expectations for him if and when he debuts.
Moorhouse impressed on the post-season tour in what was his first taste of senior football, and the addition of Matheus Cunha will help him too.
Dubbed the “next Paul Pogba” for his ball-carrying skills, Moorhouse has impressed everyone in academy football.
Ruben Amorim had numerous chances to hand Moorhouse his competitive debut last season, but the Man Utd manager was clearly reticent to throw a young prospect in a difficult team.
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Moorhouse has trained with the senior team many times, so he’s clearly doing something right to separate himself from the pack.
Already 19 years old, the midfielder now faces a vital summer to force a first-team breakthrough.
A vital summer for Moorhouse
Youth players generally break out before they’re 20, especially if they haven’t gone on loan spells.
In this regard, Moorhouse has been hurt by a lack of injury luck, as he was out of the picture for a while.
However, his quality has never been in any doubt, and he was showing signs of staying fit consistently as the season finished last time out.
With Amorim targeting a central midfielder for the team after signing two goalscoring attacking midfielders and chasing a striker, there’s a vacancy.
If Amorim wants to strengthen in the middle, it means he’s not perfectly happy with the options at his disposal, which is where Moorhouse enters the conversation.
If he can take the games by the scruff of their necks, especially against Premier League opposition, it will make him undeniable for Amorim.
Furthermore, it will save United millions in the transfer market, all the while getting them a brand new asset from the youth team.
Either way, Moorhouse needs to take the next step now. It either comes at Man Utd on the back of a thrilling pre-season, or it comes on loan, where he will have to scrap and claw to prove his quality.
A vital summer awaits.