Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Michael Carrick has heavily involved Manchester United’s academy in his pre-season plans this summer, but for every wonderkid involved, there is one who has become forgotten, falling by the wayside.
Since becoming the head coach of Manchester United, Michael Carrick has been a vocal supporter of the academy, and he has backed it up this summer during pre-season.
Harry Amass, Shea Lacey, and others have played multiple times for United on tour, establishing themselves as proper first-team options.
Meanwhile, JJ Gabriel and Jim Thwaites have both also stepped into first-team competition with their cameo appearances against Atletico Madrid likely to do wonders for their development.
But here are eight more academy players who haven’t had such a successful summer.
Manchester City v Manchester United - FA Youth Cup Final
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
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Last season, Godwill Kukonki was among United’s best academy players, dominating at an U18 level as a left-back and centre-back, knocking on the first-team door for lots of the campaign.
But with Kukonki’s contract situation currently unknown, there have been some question marks around his future at the football club.
This has coincided with Kukonki’s absence from pre-season, which he probably should have been nailed on for, and this all points towards his uncertain future continuing to be uncertain.
His contract situation is reportedly under control, but actions speak louder than words.
Ethan Ennis would have thought that this summer was his best chance at claiming a spot in the first-team for Manchester United, fresh off an impressive loan at Fleetwood Town, where he made it clear he is ready for a step up.
Six goals and eight assists for Fleetwood last season, yet this summer so far has seen little loan interest reported, while he has also not been in the first-team picture.
Ennis is a probable candidate for United to outright sell this summer, with interest from League One and potentially Scotland or the Championship set to arrive. Ennis is a superb talent, and United are likely to ensure any sale involves a sell-on or buy-back option in the future.
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Another academy talent who is now simply too far into his career to be playing academy football is Jack Moorhouse, yet he has started this summer playing for the U21s, showing that his first-team chances died with Ruben Amorim.
Moorhouse had a difficult loan at Leyton Orient last season before returning in January to complete the season playing U21 football, but Carrick quite evidently doesn’t view Moorhouse as a senior option for United.
Because of this, we fully expect that Moorhouse will now be sold this summer so he can begin his career properly.
Unlike the others on this list, Bendito Mantato is an academy graduate already at United, having made his debut under Ruben Amorim in December 2025.
Mantato failed to make his place in the first-team stick, moving straight back down into the academy ranks after this, and an injury then ended his 2025/26 campaign.
It isn’t clear whether he is fit yet, but Mantato will probably remain at the club this season to be the right winger for the U21s. Here, we hope he will kick on finally and take his game up a level, which he hasn’t really done since he was 16.
It would be surprising to see Mantato loaned out this summer, but potentially in January, he could, depending on how his campaign is going.
Another attacking prospect left somewhat in the cold is Gabriele Biancheri, following an unsuccessful loan with Rotherham last season.
Biancheri is a huge talent, as evidenced by his impeccable academy scoring record, but he looks unlikely to get the opportunities he needs at United, considering he hasn’t had anywhere near the exposure to the senior side as his peers have.
This summer will see Biancheri head on loan again, we would assume, just hopefully United manages to pick his destination a bit better and get him some guaranteed game-time.
Jayce Fitzgerald really is a forgotten player at United. He was once considered the next great midfield academy talent to be coming through Carrington, but injuries halted his progress.
Fitzgerald is evidently top class when he plays, but consistent setbacks have meant he has been lapped by his academy positional rivals right now, and even those far younger than him, such as Jim Thwaites.
He needs to be playing senior football, with United likely hesitant due to his injuries. But without it, he won’t ever develop or take the next step. So task one is to stay injury-free, and then he needs to get on loan.
James Scanlon is another to find himself at a crossroads this summer after his loan at Swindon Town was a bit of a failure. Scanlon was criticised by his manager and barely played in the latter months of his loan move.
But Scanlon is a great player; he showed this for the United academy with his goals and assists. However, this summer needs to see him find another loan, and this time one that suits him and his qualities to allow him to play.
There isn’t any point sending him somewhere to sit on the bench, so United need to be carefully considering where he ends up.
The final name on the list is Amir Ibragimov, who was once mentioned in the same breath as Shea Lacey but has now been left in the Liverpudlian’s dust.
Like many on this list, Ibragimov suffered from injury issues last season and the season before, but his talent remains, and he demonstrates why he is regarded so highly any time he gets a chance.
Ibragimov is a full Russian international now, and this season for him needs to be about nailing down a U21 place, staying fit, and beginning to make himself an option to Michael Carrick in midfield.