Manchester United have five academy youngsters who could make debuts next season

Manchester United are synonymous with developing young academy players.

The Manchester Evening News continues to offer the most extensive coverage of United's academy and no other outlet has appeared at Leigh Sports Village as much in the last few years.

United's academy is the bedrock of the club and there's huge interest in the youth system, which has produced the likes of Sir Bobby Charlton, George Best, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and, more recently, players such as Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.

Mainoo's rise has been particularly rewarding to follow in the last few years. "Mainoo has outgrown academy football and his talent is needed in the first team," wrote this correspondent in the match report upon his return from injury for the Under-21s against Salford in October.

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United U21 manager Travis Binnion sat down with the MEN toward the end of last season to reflect on the campaign for the academy and, while lavishing praise on Mainoo and Garnacho, he produced a brilliant quote about how first-team debuts are expected at the club.

"I’d expect it to happen," said Binnion about future debuts. "I think the unknown is which ones, as some players emerge and some will slow down. I believe we can achieve the same number of debuts and I think what they do is actually more important than debuts.

"Garna, Kobbie, I believe Willy Kambwala, will play a lot of football for us. I think debuts are one thing, but sustained impact is another and I believe that will happen with this cohort.

"We expect it to happen, we don't just think or presume it will, but there's an expectation