Manchester United have had a rich history of nurturing young talent in their academy.
According to The Daily Mail, Jim Thwaites is one of the youngsters that manager Ruben Amorim likes most.
Thwaites signed his first long-term professional contract in December last year.
The 17-year-old made the “best impression” among the youngsters that took part in the post-season tour to Malaysia and Hong Kong, standing out among a talented group.
Thwaites is highly rated at the academy level and is tipped to be a potential superstar in the making.
He is a technically gifted midfielder who is known for his calmness with the ball at his feet.
Despite being only 17 and having a slender frame, Thwaites has already played for both Under-18 and Under-21 sides.
His low centre of gravity allows him to glide away from challenges and wriggle free from aggressive presses with ease.
His ability to ping inch-perfect cross-field passes gives his side a reliable weapon to switch the play and open up defences.
The teenager is always scanning the area around him to find space and play the ball forward.
He plays in central midfield and could excel in the role of a deep-lying playmaker.
On top of his all-round game, Thwaites has emerged as one of the academy’s deadliest set-piece specialists.
He possesses spectacular technique and absolute precision to beat goalkeepers from free-kicks.
There is space for a player like him in the first team and Amorim will be unwise not to keep the prodigy close to senior squad.