Ruben Amorim is not currently making use of the academy at Manchester United, but he might be planning to very soon.
In the entire country right now, Manchester United’s academy is one of the best yet; despite this, none of the top talents are getting opportunities to make steps into the first team.
Since taking charge of the club in November 2024, Ruben Amorim has awarded three United academy graduates, but zero have come in the 2025/26 campaign.
Amorim has long been criticised by United fans for not putting trust in the academy. This goes back to last season when Amorim named a short bench instead of bringing a youngster, something that is very against what the club stands for.
It would be incredibly difficult to bring an academy talent up into the team, as it is currently in the midst of serious struggles. However, if Amorim were to turn his eyes toward the academy, it sounds like one player is the frontrunner.
Jim Thwaites dribbling with ball for Manchester United U18s.
Photo by Anthony Devlin/Manchester United via Getty Images
Ruben Amorim is a big fan of Manchester United wonderkid Jim Thwaites
There are few talents within the United academy set-up who have enjoyed better starts to the 2025/26 than Jim Thwaites has as a central midfielder for both the U18s and U21s.
Thwaites has become a real leader for the U18s, playing in the number six, which has seen him excel at taking the ball from defenders and progressing play. Additionally, he is a very capable defender, winning tackles and duels impressively.
Amorim was impressed by Thwaites during the post-season tour of Asia, and now it seems this admiration has been taken further.
More United News
According to the Daily Mail, which explains that Thwaites has been in senior training alongside a select few academy players.
The 17-year-old is seen as one of the youngsters Amorim is most keen on using. The report adds that academy staff speak glowingly about Thwaites and his temperament.
Looking back to that post-season tour, the report concludes that Thwaites was the player who made the ‘best impression’ on Amorim.