Who is Jim Thwaites? The 16-year-old training with Manchester United first team ahead of Brighton

Manchester United are stepping up their preparations for the first away game of the 2024/15 Premier League season.

Erik ten Hag’s side started the campaign on a positive note with new signing Joshua Zirkzee getting the only goal of the game in last Friday’s 1-0 Premier League win over Fulham as the team kicked off the new campaign. Concentration now turns to the trip to Brighton.

United take on the Seagulls at the AMEX Stadium on Saturday (12.30pm kick-off). Fabian Hurzeler’s side started with a 3-0 win over Everton last weekend, leaving them at the top of the early table.

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Ahead of the game, Ten Hag has been putting his first-team squad through their paces. Included in the group was teenager Jim Thwaites, who at just 16 is considered as one of the club’s leading prospects.

So who is Thwaites? MEN Sport has taken a closer look at the youngster.

Thwaites is a 16-year-old central midfielder who has come up through the youth teams at Old Trafford. He was one of 10 players to sign a first-year scholarship deal earlier this summer, with young players not able to sign professional deals until they are 17 years old.

He featured for the club’s U16, U18, and U21 sides last season, winning the Goal of the Season award at both U16 and U18 levels. He made nine appearances for the U18s, his goal being a crucial equaliser in the 2-2 draw with Derby County.

His two appearances for the development squad came as a second-half substitute in the Premier League 2 clashes against Derby and Middlesbrough. This year he is expected to be given a prominent role