Man Utd youngster Ethan Ennis spoke to the MEN about his successful stint on loan with Fleetwood Town.
The MEN sat down with United loanee Ethan Ennis.(Image: Adam Gee/Fleetwood Town & Manchester United)
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"I got a few messages saying it was a miskick," laughed Ethan Ennis, referencing his outstanding goal for Fleetwood Town in December. Ennis scored a trivela goal against Luton in the FA Cup, striking the ball with the outside of his foot to find the top left corner.
Fleetwood's head of communications revealed that Ennis had messaged him for the clip of the goal just seconds after the final whistle. You cannot blame him for wanting to watch it back.
It was the kind of goal that can put a player in the shop window, and Ennis will not be short of interest this summer after excelling during his second loan away from Manchester United.
"I've really enjoyed it," Ennis told the Manchester Evening News at Fleetwood's training ground. United send several academy players out on loan each season, but some can be difficult for young players. Ennis has been one of United's most successful loans. The youngster has made 35 appearances for Fleetwood, contributing six goals and four assists, and was named as the club's player of the month for January.
"I was really proud," said Ennis of the award. "I think that's definitely something I wanted to focus on this season, being consistent and showing them good performances every week, so I was proud when that came up."
Fleetwood staff were impressed by Ennis' work ethic from the moment he arrived in Lancashire. "It's always been drilled into me, doing stuff before training starts, pre-hab and stuff," he said.
That mentality has helped Ennis become a mainstay in Fleetwood's starting XI. "There's always an element of luck," he said. "I got my opportunity to stay in the team a bit longer, maybe through injuries and circumstance, which I think happens to anyone in football, really, across any level and any story.
"I think once I was in the team, I did well and stayed in. I think I've just grown in confidence as the season's gone on, really, and sort of shown my strengths week in, week out, and obviously playing a bit of a different role, but I'm enjoying it. It's worked out really well."
Ennis is enjoying life at Fleetwood.(Image: Adam Gee/Fleetwood Town)
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Ennis is a goalscoring winger by trade. He scored 10 goals in 15 academy appearances for United in the first half of last season before joining Doncaster on loan in January 2025, but he has played at wing-back for Fleetwood.
He explained: "The old gaffer was here when I first came in. He mentioned that he played with a back five, but he was bringing me in to have the option to play a four as well. I played in the 10 a couple of times earlier in the season, but, as I said before, circumstances led me to play at wing-back.
"I think I've improved across all bases. I've improved a lot defensively, one-on-one and positioning in general. And then, yeah, I just think playing to my strengths and affecting the game as much as possible.
"I want to put myself in good stead, being able to play any of these positions, like on the left, right, or as a wing back. I've even played on both sides as a wing-back this season, so I think being able to show that versatility is important."
He continues to practice his finishing, though. "It was funny actually, in the couple of weeks leading up to the trivela goal, I'd been playing off the right side more and having more opportunities to assist because I'm going down the line to a cross, rather than coming inside to shoot.
"Before or after training, if I was coming inside, I'd probably prefer to shoot off the outside of my right foot rather than use my left, so it was funny enough I did practise that strike in the weeks up to it. And yeah, it came off!"
Ennis found the top left with the outside of his boot.(Image: FA Cup)
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It was a big deal when United's academy signed Ennis from Liverpool's youth system in August 2021. There has not been a senior transfer directly between the two clubs since 1964.
"I was probably too young to take it on board," Ennis said. "I just wanted to play football. At the time, as a family and a group, we thought it was the best place for me to develop. That was the sole reason. United developed a lot of good wingers and a lot of good forward players around that time."
Ennis won the FA Youth Cup in his first season in Manchester, playing alongside Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho. "It was an unreal experience. We packed out the stadium for the final," he said.
"We set a record attendance, and we had a good team. I was in and out of the side. We had Garnacho on my side (left wing), who was a year older than me, but to be a part of it was still nice."
Ennis (left) with the FA Youth Cup in 2022. (Image: 2022 Getty Images)
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Disaster struck at the end of 2022 when Ennis ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), but he fully recovered and made up for lost time by banging in goals for United's Under-21s. Travis Binnion coached United to FA Youth Cup glory in 2021/22. Binnion eventually moved up to manage the U21s, which coincided with the Class of '22 progressing to the next age group.
That means Ennis has been coached by Binnion, who is now part of Michael Carrick's backroom staff, throughout. "He cares a lot about players and their development, like on a personal level," he said.
"He tries to get the best for everyone. He just sort of cares so much about how well the lads do, which shows during training or at games. That passion really comes out. I've had contact from Travis while I've been here."
Binnion pictured with Ennis as he signed a new contract.(Image: Manchester United)
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United gave Ennis a new deal in the summer of 2024. He played for the first-team in the opening two friendlies of pre-season against Rosenborg and Rangers, but was not included in the United States tour squad.
Asked about missing out on the tour, Ennis responded: "It was a bit of a mix of just coming back from injury and stuff, to have consistent game time going into the season. I'd missed so much football.
"I think going on the tour as a younger player, you don't always get prioritised for the minutes and stuff, which is understandable. So I think that was more the thinking behind that. But obviously, it would have been nice to go, but I think everything happens for a reason."
Ennis "didn't have much time" with Erik ten Hag, so he couldn't say much about the Dutchman, but he praised Ruud van Nistelrooy, a former member of Ten Hag's coaching staff.
"For the short time Ruud was there, he was always good with the young lads," he said. "I think he was very positive and was a 'look on the bright side' kind of coach. He wanted to get the best out of people. Bruno [Fernandes] has always got time for the lads from the academy as well."
Ennis pictured against Rangers in 2024 pre-season.(Image: 2024 Getty Images)
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Ennis has entered the final year of his contract at Old Trafford, but United have the option to extend it by 12 months. "I think I'm just trying to take it as it goes. I've put myself in a pretty good position in terms of what I've done on this loan to moving forward, whether that be staying at United, moving on, or whatever happens," he said.
"I'm open to anything, to be honest. Obviously, the option is in their favour, so I'll sort of wait and see. I think there'll be positives to either outcome, to be honest. So, yeah, I'm just looking forward to seeing what happens.
"I'm not going to sit here and say I wouldn't have liked to have made my debut because obviously, yeah. But I think timing and stuff have a lot to do with it. Not just in my case, but just in general. Obviously, it's a bit disappointing, but it is what it is. There are bigger things going forward to look forward to.
"I want to have a really strong finish to the season. I think just trying to stay consistent. I've spoken about keep chipping away with goals and assists, really, and just finish the season off being gone, really, as strong as possible.
"I think coming into this loan, obviously, I hadn't played loads of football towards the end of the last season. So I wanted to get in the team and stay in the team early, and then plan some targets from there."
Ennis is thriving at Fleetwood.(Image: Adam Gee/Fleetwood Town)
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When Ennis signed for Doncaster on loan last year, he performed a song by Justin Bieber at his initiation. "It was a slow song," Ennis smiled, but he got away without an initiation when he signed for Fleetwood.
"My Doncaster loan definitely set me up better for this," he said. "I think when any academy lads go out for the first time in the EFL, it's a bit of a shock to the system. It's difficult because obviously, every case is different. Once you go out there, you're not in that United bubble.
"You know you're going to get game time, sort of no matter what. It's a big learning experience when you go out for the first time. I think you sort of need to go through that. Like, no matter what happens, I think it will set you in good stead, whether it be good, whether that be bad, for the future.
"I think it's like a bubble at every academy. You play sort of high-level technical football all the way through, and then you go out, and it's a completely different style that you need to get used to quickly.
"You know how important points are, but until you live it, it's probably different. And there's a different amount of pressure to perform and stay in the team. Doncaster were up there in the table, so it was challenging for me [to stay in the team], but that put me in good stead moving forward.
"I probably felt a bit apprehensive coming into this, because obviously, with my contract situation, it needed to work, so I think I have a sense of pride that I've sort of knuckled down and made that happen.
"It's not easy to play week in, week out. I think if you speak to anyone here, it's probably the hardest thing about football, like playing on a Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday, so I'm really proud of that."
What would Ennis, who lives in Altrincham with his girlfriend and drives into Fleetwood's training ground with former United academy midfielder Mark Helm, like to achieve by the end of his career? "I want to play at the highest level I can," he added. "I've still got loads to learn and, loads of stuff to show from my game. And just enjoy it. I think this season I've really focused on just enjoying my football."
Ennis walked away from the interview with a smile on his face. His career is only starting.