Erik ten Hag might have discovered the next Phil Foden - Manchester United academy notebook

Manchester United's Under-18s made headlines last weekend for their emphatic win over Liverpool.

That group of youngsters, who are on course to win their league, won 9-1 against Liverpool as they asserted their dominance over their Merseyside rivals in ruthless fashion.

They have enjoyed an outstanding season, but there are plenty of other academy talking points to discuss, which is the aim of this round-up from the youth set-up.

The Manchester Evening News will continue to provide the most extensive coverage of United's academy and here is the latest news, compiled in notebook format.

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Making comparisons between young players and stars of the game can often be unhelpful, but it's easy to see why Shea Lacey has been widely compared to Phil Foden.

Lacey is one of the most exciting young talents the academy has produced for years and he's set to be rewarded with his first professional contract this month.

The youngster is an exceptional prospect and took part in first-team training this week, which was excellent to see after a period on the sidelines with an injury.

The 16-year-old was born in Merseyside and comes from a family of Liverpool fans, but he's a United supporter and grew up idolising multi-Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi.

Amir Ibragimov is another player who is causing excitement among those who follow the academy and he made a brilliant cameo for the Under-21s earlier this week.

Ibragimov was absent for some of this season through injury, but his substitute performance against Brighton at Leigh Sports Village suggests he's