When Kobbie Mainoo exited Manchester United’s pre-season friendly against Real Madrid in Las Vegas a year ago with a limp, few could have foreseen the four-month injury lay-off that would follow, let alone his subsequent rise to play regularly for both club and country in the FA Cup and Euro 2024 finals.
Today, Mainoo serves as a shining example for United’s upcoming talents, much like Alejandro Garnacho did in the past. While the rest of the squad has been training in Los Angeles for the past two weeks, Mainoo has been enjoying a holiday in California but made an appearance on the last day of training at the UCLA campus to wish his teammates good luck before they traveled to South Carolina for their final tour match against Liverpool.
This three-match tour has provided an excellent opportunity for the younger players to stand out in the absence of several international teammates, including Mainoo, who are resting following their commitments in the Euros and Copa America.
Mail Sport examines some of the promising talent emerging from the academy and evaluates their chances of making an impact in Erik ten Hag’s squad this season.
Kobbie Mainoo ended the season playing in the final of the FA Cup and at Euro 2024
Now Mainoo is the example for Manchester United’s aspiring young stars to follow, just like Alejandro Garnacho before him
HARRY AMASS 4/5
Last season, left-back was a challenging position for Ten Hag due to the long-term injuries to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, but United might have discovered a long-term solution in the talented Harry Amass.
The 17-year-old joined the academy from Watford last year, where he had already trained with the first team at just 15, after United successfully repelled interest from Chelsea. He signed his first professional contract in March and was an unused substitute against Liverpool the following month.
Amass kicked off the tour by starting the first two matches against Arsenal in LA and Real Betis in San Diego, after coming on as a half-time substitute for Sam Murray in the pre-season matches against Rosenborg and Rangers. Following a shaky debut in Trondheim, the London-born talent demonstrated his potential to become a future star.
‘Things have progressed faster than I anticipated, but that’s football for you – anything can happen at any time,’ stated Amass. ‘Injuries happen, and you have to seize your opportunities.
‘I haven’t had any discussions with the manager yet, but this pre-season is my opportunity to prove that I can deliver if selected. We’ll see what unfolds when Luke and Tyrell return. My goal is to be playing first-team football at this club.
Left-back was the problem position for Ten Hag last season in the prolonged absences of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, but United may well have a long-term solution in Harry Amass
‘If the opportunity arises, I must grasp it fully. It could be career-changing. I’m just awaiting that moment. I feel prepared.’
Strong in defense and dynamic in attack, Amass has been likened to Shaw. ‘It’s a flattering comparison,’ remarked Amass. ‘To me, Shaw is one of the top left-backs in the Premier League, if not the best for a lengthy period. I certainly won’t complain about being compared to him.’
His standout moment on tour thus far came during the game against Real Betis, where he sped down the left side to deliver a cross that led to Amad Diallo’s goal in a thrilling 3-2 victory, followed by a formidable double tackle on Rodri and Hector Bellerin.
‘You need to showcase your aggressive side,’ added Amass, who played a pivotal role in United’s Treble-winning Under-18 team last season and was called into the England squad for the UEFA European Under-17 Championship.
‘Being younger or smaller than your opponent doesn’t matter; you must demonstrate your aggression and resolve. That’s how you can have a great match.
‘I’m comfortable on the ball. I enjoy dribbling, taking on defenders, and providing exciting moments for the fans. Playing alongside Marcus Rashford greatly facilitates my game, as he is an incredible player who understands my style immediately.’
Shaw won’t return to training until next week, and Malacia is estimated to need at least two more months to recover from a season-ending double knee surgery. However, United is close to acquiring right-back Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich, who is also adept at playing on the left side if necessary, potentially delaying Amass’s competitive debut.
The 17-year-old joined the academy last year from Watford – where he was included in the first-team squad at the age of 15 – after United fended off interest from Chelsea
When queried about Amass’s development in LA, Ten Hag exercised caution, noting that Amass still trails Mainoo’s progress from the same stage last summer, but acknowledged his potential to elevate his game.
‘We witnessed this with Kobbie last season, but Harry is not far off now,’ added the United manager. ‘If we provide him with proper training and coaching, it’s feasible he could reach that level in three months.
‘At this moment, he needs to catch up and refine certain skills to compete for a position in Manchester United’s top ranks. However, with significant talent, progress can be swift, and it will be intriguing to see if he can achieve this.’
TOBY COLLYER 4/5
When Ten Hag clinched the Carabao Cup in his first season, he made a point to celebrate with Mainoo on the Wembley pitch, despite Mainoo not being in the squad at that time. A year later, he had firmly established himself in the first team.
Thus, when Ten Hag took a moment to converse with Collyer after Garnacho and Mainoo contributed goals to secure United’s FA Cup victory over Manchester City in May, it carried significant weight.
‘He advised me to soak it all in, enjoy the moment, and continue working hard – you never know what could unfold,’ Collyer recalls. ‘He’s a genuinely good guy, the manager. He communicates clearly what he expects from each of us and does his utmost to support us. Ultimately, they do everything for us, and it’s our duty to perform well on the pitch.’
Toby Collyer stood out in United’s first pre-season friendly against Rosenborg and was rewarded with a start in the second game against Rangers and against Arsenal in LA
The 20-year-old midfielder impressed in United’s opening pre-season friendly against Rosenborg, leading to a start in the subsequent matches against Rangers and Arsenal in LA. He was substituted at halftime by Christian Eriksen and came on as a replacement for Eriksen against Real Betis.
Ten Hag personally attended when Collyer signed his first professional contract this summer, stating after the Rangers victory: ‘I am always eager to create pathways for young talents, but they must earn that right. Collyer has certainly earned his chance, and we will assess how he can progress further.’
Collyer joined United in 2022 from Brighton’s academy, where he developed a reputation as a dynamic midfielder capable of running 13km per game. He was called into first-team training in February and found himself on the bench for some matches by the end of last season.
‘Being on the bench is valuable for soaking in the experience,’ says Collyer. ‘You learn what it’s like to be part of matchday routines, the changing room dynamic, and the atmosphere with fans. Now that I’ve collected significant minutes during pre-season, I feel satisfied.
‘My work predominantly occurs off the ball. I consider myself an energetic player. However, I’d like to improve my performance in possession, and I believe the best way to do this is by actively demanding the ball and engaging in challenging situations.’
Much of Collyer’s future at United hinges on whether Scott McTominay, Casemiro, and Eriksen remain at the club post-transfer window, but it would not be unexpected to see Collyer making his first appearance from the bench.
Much could depend on whether Scott McTominay, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen stay at United, but it would be a surprise if we didn’t see Collyer finally making it off the bench
ETHAN WHEATLEY 4/5
Like Mainoo, Wheatley hails from Stockport and succeeded him as United’s Young Player of the Year last season, also achieving the milestone of being the 250th academy graduate to debut for the first team.
‘Several of us were vying for the accolade, and we shared some friendly banter about it,’ Wheatley recalled, who made a late substitute appearance against Sheffield United in April, just a day after scoring twice in the Under-18 Premier League Cup final against Manchester City, and a week after he was included in the senior squad to face Coventry in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
‘The club has a rich history of fostering academy talent. Players like Kobbie, who broke into the first team less than a year ago, inspire us because they demonstrate the possibilities available. If we excel, we will be given chances at this club.’
Ethan Wheatley succeeded Mainoo as United’s Young Player of the Year last season and also received the accolade of becoming the 250th academy graduate to make his first-team debut
A potent striker of Malaysian heritage, Wheatley netted 22 goals across all competitions for United’s youth sides last season.
The 20-year-old played the first half against Rosenborg in Trondheim, making a strong impression, then started against Rangers at Murrayfield, where he was nearly denied a debut goal by a last-minute block from defender Dujon Sterling. During the tour, he came off the bench twice, playing the second half against Arsenal and the final half hour against Real Betis.
With Rasmus Hojlund sidelined for six weeks due to a hamstring injury and new signing Joshua Zirkzee just a week into pre-season, Wheatley might find himself among the substitutes in the initial games of the season and is eager to benefit from working alongside United’s new assistant manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.
‘Ruud was undoubtedly one of the best strikers we’ve had at the club. Since his arrival, I’ve been picking up tips from him to enhance my game,’ Wheatley explains, having also played for England at Under-17 level.
‘I’m taking it all in stride, to be honest. I had a taste of it last season, and this season, my goal is to remain focused, continue developing as a player, and impress with my performances. Hopefully, I’ll earn more opportunities.’
With Hojlund ruled out for six weeks with a hamstring injury and Zirkzee only a week into pre-season, Wheatley could be among the substitutes in the opening weeks of the season
