Manchester United’s pre-season team is impressing everyone with their improvement under Ruben Amorim, but one youngster ignored by him back home is showing he is not done yet.
The traveling squad for the USA tour reflected the reality of Man Utd’s season, as no European football meant fewer opportunities for youngsters to break through.
The likes of Harry Amass and Radek Vitek earned themselves good loans, but some youngsters haven’t even received that privilege at the time of writing.
They are playing for the Man Utd U21s in a pre-season of their own, and one youngster there is making the most of what he’s given.
Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace battles for the ball with Ethan Ennis of Doncaster Rovers during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Doncaster Rovers and Crystal Palace at Eco-Power Stadium on February 10, 2025
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Ethan Ennis begins a scoring streak
It feels like a lifetime ago when Ethan Ennis grabbed the headlines in England’s youth circuit for his move from Liverpool to Man Utd.
It was a huge coup at the time, but Ennis’ injury worries since then have robbed him of breakout opportunities, and Ineos’ youth revolution has made it an uphill task.
Ennis spent the last season on loan with Doncaster Rovers, and he impressed in spurts, but couldn’t stand out like Ethan Williams did at Cheltenham.
As a result, he didn’t go on tour with the first team, and is currently in action for United U21s in their pre-season.
More United News
Ennis is making the most of every opportunity, however, starting with a goal against Fleetwood Town in a win marked by Finley McAllister’s return from injury.
He managed to build on that goal by scoring another, this time against Rochdale, as he keeps showing that he’s ready for senior football.
Being on a scoring streak is the best way for a forward to catch attention, and doing it against professional English league teams, albeit during pre-season, is a massive boost.
Ennis deserves time at Man Utd
No two breakthroughs are the same, and for every Chido Obi, there is a Tyler Fredricson.
Ennis hasn’t lived up to the promise he showed when he came from Liverpool, but most of it has been due to factors outside his control.
If he can stay injury-free, then he’s clearly shown that he has a career at Premier League level, even if it isn’t at Old Trafford.
Another loan on the back of these impressive pre-season performances should be on the cards, preferably at a higher level than he was at Doncaster.
Impressing on that move can open new doors for him, and he will also probably be looking to restart his career properly with a permanent move elsewhere. Talent doesn’t disappear overnight, so United should not cut ties with him permanently yet.
He has shown that he deserves time and patience.