Tunnicliffe Pushing On

Ryan Tunnicliffe is determined to push on and continue his progress at United after making his senior bow on the DHL tour.

The 19-year-old is the only member of the FA Youth Cup-winning central midfield trio forcing his way into Sir Alex Ferguson's plans with Ravel Morrison and Paul Pogba having left the club, and he feels there is the opportunity to achieve his childhood dream and become a first-team regular in the future.

After opening the scoring in the Manchester United XI's 6-2 win at Market Drayton on Wednesday, the tenacious midfielder will be striving to keep himself in Sir Alex's thoughts as the season progresses and aim for making a competitive debut at some stage.

When asked by Inside United if he felt any additional pressure flying the flag for the 2011 Youth Cup triumvirate, he replied: "On the other hand, they were good players playing in my position so one of us might have made it and another one might have not.

"So with them gone, it does open it up for me in a way but, obviously, I was close to them. We were midfield partners and good friends. I was sad to see Paul go and I do think he was a great player and could have made it here as well. But another door opens and it goes both ways."

With the likes of Ji-sung Park and Darron Gibson also departing this year, it was suggested to Tunnicliffe that the path to a midfield place may start becoming clearer from his perspective.

"There are not as many people," he admitted.

"But we've still got Larnell [Cole] and Jesse [Lingard], who are doing very well as well, and people who are younger than me and have got me looking over my shoulder as well as looking forward.

"There is a gap but I think there are still plenty of good players in the squad that I've got to get past to even get a few games this year."