Erik ten Hag aiming for one Manchester United academy promotion to first team

Erik ten Hag is aiming for one Manchester United academy member to earn a permanent promotion to the first-team squad.

Ten Hag oversaw the development of Alejandro Garnacho from United's junior sides to the senior team last term while fellow 2022 FA Youth Cup winners Charlie McNeill and Kobbie Mainoo were handed debuts by the Dutchman.

Mainoo, 18, excelled as a starter in the friendly defeat of Leeds in Oslo on Wednesday but McNeill did not travel and spent the second half of last season on loan at Newport County in League Two.

A number of United academy graduates have made the transition to the first team in the last 10 years with varying degrees of success. Adnan Januzaj was one of the few highlights of David Moyes's 10-month tenure while Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford's breakthroughs came under Louis van Gaal.

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Scott McTominay was an unlikely success story when Jose Mourinho was manager while Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams impressed in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first full season in charge. Anthony Elanga came to prominence under Ralf Rangnick.

"This is their moment," Ten Hag told MUTV when asked about United's rookies. "So we have to improve the squad, you can do it with players who make transfers but also players who are across the whole academy.

"Man United is famous [for] it, to bring young kids to above and to play in the first team. Last year, Garnacho made it. So I always hope for a minimum one player who can go into our squad and compete for a starting position."

Noam Emeran and Joe Hugill scored in the second half of United's win against Leeds. Forty-three academy players have debuted for United in the last 10 years.