More United Youngsters Could Shine

Manchester United's final three Premier League games of the season could present more opportunities for the club's young players to shine.

A club that has always prided itself on its faith in youth has continued that tradition this season with Marcus Rashford, still only 19 years old, playing more minutes than any other teenager in England's top flight as well as spearheading the Reds' bid for European glory.

Jose Mourinho handed Reserves captain Axel Tuanzebe, also aged 19, his first senior start in Sunday's clash at Arsenal and introduced 20-year-old Scott McTominay, pictured above, as a substitute in the closing stages for his first-team debut.

The boss also gave goalkeeper Joel Pereira, 20, his maiden appearance in the Emirates FA Cup win over Wigan Athletic, before expressing his belief that his fellow countryman will become Portugal's no.1 in the future. Meanwhile, Tim Fosu-Mensah, 19, has been around the squad all season and reached double figures for appearances in 2016/17 until an untimely injury in the Manchester derby.

Reserves midfielder Matty Willock, 20, was an unused substitute against West Brom recently and hopes to follow regular first-teamers Jesse Lingard and Paul Pogba on their route from the club's fabled Academy.

Tuanzebe's excellent baptism at the Emirates, as he successfully shackled Alexis Sanchez and showed the composure that always accompanies his remarkable temperament, bodes well and he will hope for further involvement as the campaign reaches its climax.

United's priority is now winning the Europa League and, if Mourinho's men can overcome Celta Vigo on Thursday, the need to focus on the final in Stockholm is likely to lead to the boss resting key members of his side. The aforementioned youngsters who have already featured will be keen to show they can handle senior football and there are others within the ranks who will be itching for an opportunity.

Demi Mitchell, 20, has adapted his game to become very much a modern-day left-back by retaining the attacking instincts that made him one of England Schoolboys' brightest attacking talents. It would be some reward for the Reserve Team Player of the Year candidate to cap his metamorphosis from forward to defender with a place in a senior matchday squad.

As Mourinho looks unlikely to be able to call upon a number of full-back options due to injuries and loans, Matthew Olosunde, 19, could also emerge as an alternative. The American certainly has the physical attributes and has been in the form of his life for the Reserves, rampaging up and down the right flank and scoring an eye-catching goal in the Dallas Cup. It's feasible he could feature given the absence of Luke Shaw, Ashley Young, Marcos Rojo, Tim Fosu-Mensah, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Guillermo Varela and Joe Riley.

Josh Harrop, 22, is another contender for the Reserve Team Player of the Year award, after being nominated by interim coach Nicky Butt, and is another young midfielder who dreams of pulling on the red shirt for the first team. As always, there are ones further down the pipeline who are showing real promise with the creative prospect Callum Gribbin, 18, promoted to Reserves duty this year after pulling the strings in the Under-18s.

Mourinho will be formulating his strategy once the Europa League semi-final second leg is not dominating his thoughts and, if United can reach Stockholm, it will be interesting to see how he juggles his options for the matches against Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton and Crystal Palace. Certainly, if Tuanzebe's assured 90-minute showing is anything to go by, the youngsters will not let their manager down.

The views expressed in this article are personal to the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Manchester United.

Credit: Manutd.com