Four Manchester United academy players training with first-team including Kobbie Mainoo

Kobbie Mainoo, Dan Gore, Isak Hansen-Aaroen and Omari Forson are 'frequently' training with Manchester United's first-team.

United's 21s started their Papa Johns Trophy campaign with a 2-1 win over Carlisle at Bruton Park on Tuesday night. Charlie McNeill, 18, and Forson, 18, were on the scoresheet and United did well to respond to Carlisle finding an equaliser in the second half.

Travis Binnion, who normally manages the U18s, was on the touchline for the match instead of coach Mark Dempsey and he led United to FA Youth Cup success last season, with Mainoo, Hansen-Aaroen and Gore playing key roles in that triumph.

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Those three players and Forson have now been recognised by Erik ten Hag, who is giving them the opportunity to 'frequently' train with the first-team, as Binnion revealed after the U21s side emerged with the three points against Carlisle on Tuesday.

Binnion was asked about Ten Hag's influence on the academy and he named the players who are now training with the first-team.

"The manager’s been great,” Binnion told The Mirror. “Zidane [Iqbal] and Alejandro [Garnacho] played tonight but they’re with the first-team permanently. Omari [Forson] and Isak [Hansen-Aaroen] have been with them frequently, like Kobbie [Mainoo] and Dan [Gore].

"So, most of those boys have experienced first-team training in the last few weeks. The manager’s got a track record of putting players in as long as they’re good enough and this football club has, too. The boys have got to continue putting in performances like that.

"It’s no good just playing well once, we’ve got to put performances together and make sure our development of the individuals keeps