Rafe McCormack is a youngster emerging for Manchester United’s U18 side this season, getting better game by game, and now he’s moving into a new role.
This season was always going to be a transition year for Manchester United’s academy, with key figures like Adam Lawrence and Nick Cox being replaced.
However, Darren Fletcher’s side are still right up there in the league table, despite the squad being very young and this weekend Jim Thwaites was absent, the latest big name to likely step up a level.
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JJ Gabriel and Shea Lacey are obviously exciting but who else are you excited by?
Amir Ibragimov leads team talk for Manchester United U18s.
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Amir Ibragimov has a broken foot, which is another big absence in the midfield. But against Stoke City on Saturday, Fletcher’s side picked up a 2-1 win while playing a new midfield pairing.
This involved Rafe McCormack.
Rafe McCormack passes for Manchester United.
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Rafe McCormack impressive in midfield for Manchester United U18
The 16-year-old is a very versatile player, capable in either full-back position, but his most frequent position since stepping up into the U18s has been central defence. Now Fletcher has given him minutes in midfield.
However, against Stoke, McCormack was in the starting line-up as a midfielder, partnering Jay McEvoy in a new look and youthful midfield.
McCormack looked the part in this position, helping dictate play and breaking up Stoke attacks frequently. But he also got forward, with the teenager scoring a thunderous strike from close range to put United 1-0 ahead in the first half.
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Louie Bradbury got the second, but it was United’s first, which hammered home the quality of McCormack and should have the club very excited by his qualities.
McCormack should be permanent Jim Thwaites replacement for U18s
This season, as good as it is to watch him, there is no logical reason for Thwaites to still be playing for the U18s, having outgrown this level.
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Now, Fletcher and Stephen Torpey have good reason to promote Thwaites permanently, with McCormack more than good enough to step in as his replacement.
United rate Thwaites really highly, and leaving him at a level where he isn’t being challenged anymore doesn’t benefit him.
Hopefully, this is the start of McEvoy and McCormack running the U18 midfield for United and Thwaites heading on to U21s and maybe even more.
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