One of the proudest things about Manchester United is their incredible academy. Over the years, they have produced some legends of football, going back to the Busby Babes and the Class of ’92.
More recently, some of the best Carrington graduates to come out of Old Trafford include Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay. That particular quartet all enjoyed success in the famous red shirt.
Under Rubem Amoirm, there have been several academy stars who have had first-team involvement already. Players with less experience, including striker Chido Obi, have been given minutes, and more prominent members of the squad have featured heavily, including Kobbie Mainoo.
However, one Carrington graduate who has struggled for his best form consistently this term is Alejandro Garnacho.
Alejandro Garnacho's struggle in 2024/25
After a couple of breakout seasons in the past two campaigns, notably scoring that audacious overhead kick against Everton last term, Garnacho has been a little inconsistent in the 2024/25 campaign.
Of course, the Red Devils have struggled as a team, and the Argentina international has been in and out of the side.
The 20-year-old’s numbers are, on the face of things, impressive. He has scored nine times and managed to provide eight goals across all competitions, having featured in 45 games so far this term.
However, his goal involvements have tended to come in clumps, and he grabbed six goals and assists in the first two rounds of the Carabao Cup against Barnsley and Leicester City. He has also grabbed three assists in United’s last three Europa League games.
In the Premier League, the Argentina winger scored last weekend, also against the Foxes, but had previously gone on a 16-game goal and assist drought. The goal was a well-taken finish, getting on the end of a pass from Bruno Fernandes and firing into the bottom right corner.
Garnacho is clearly a talented player, who has shown just how good he can be this term. However, his inconsistencies might lead Amorim to rotate him out of the side more, so he can stay fresh and have more of an impact off the bench.
If this is the case, perhaps there is another Carrington graduate who can help supplement Garnacho’s playing time.
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Carrington star breaking through could replace Garnacho
United are not short of quality options in their academy, but perhaps none are more exciting than Gibraltar international James Scanlon.
The 18-year-old winger has been in superb form for the Red Devils U18s this term and has made the bench once for the first team against Real Socidead in the Europa League last week.
The 10-cap Gibraltar star, who has one international goal already, has certainly not forgotten his shooting boots this season for United’s academy. He has 17 goals in 24 games across all competitions, as well as six assists.
Scanlon has been in particularly deadly form in the U18s Premier League for United this season. He has an impressive 13 goals in 13 appearances, including four goals against Blackburn Rovers in a 9-0 win.
Aside from his excellent performances this season, one of the reasons the 18-year-old could be propelled into the United first team is due to his international experience. He has already played senior football for Gibraltar, which will certainly have got him used to the physicality he can expect.
In fact, one of his best performances for the national side came against Wales in a friendly last summer. His side didn’t see much of the ball, but Scanlon impressed in possession and without the ball, too. As per Sofascore, he won three out of five ground duels and completed 80% of his passes.
Touches
18
Pass accuracy
80%
Passes completed
8/10
Ground duels won
3/5
Dribbles completed
1
Tackles and interceptions
2
Tackle win rate
100%
It is certainly hard to argue that giving Scanlon first-team opportunities this season would not be deserved. Not only is he a full international for his nation, but has been “absolutely flying” for United’s youth sides this season, as Statman Dave said.
With Garnacho’s form patchy, perhaps Scanlon is the man to come into the first team and help take the workload off him, to let him rediscover his best form.
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