Manchester United resume Premier League action this weekend with a tricky away trip to face Swansea, looking to exact revenge after Garry Monk’s side wrecked Louis van Gaal’s Old Trafford debut with a 2-1 win on the opening day back in August.
United booked themselves a place in the quarter finals of the FA Cup this week, with an unconvincing 3-1 win at Preston that didn’t pass without controversy.
Wayne Rooney has found himself at the centre of debate this week following what appeared to be a dive to win a penalty, whilst Radamel Falcao’s dreadful performance led to a substitution which for some reason he felt should be questioned.
The Colombian has been a major disappointement since his arrival from Monaco in the summer, with Manchester United fans hoping promising youngster James Wilson is given more of an opportunity to shine in the striker’s position.
Wilson is a United academy graduate who has broken into the first team this season amongst all the big money signings, but will there be others to follow in his footsteps next season?
Here we have identified five youngsters who have an opportunity at least.
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Click on Louis van Gaal to reveal 5 Manchester United kids to break into the first team in 2015-16
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Tom Thorpe
The Manchester born defender has been a mainstay of the Under-21 side, and is the trusted captain and leader of the side led by Warren Joyce.
Thorpe has led United to the Under-21 league title, as well as the FA youth cup in 2011. It has come as something of a surprise he has not been given more of a first team opportunity ahead of the likes of Paddy McNair and Dexter Blackett this season.
Thorpe made his first team debut against West Ham in September, whilst the fact he also has the ability to play as a holding midfielder is likely to benefit his first team chances in the future.
Jesse Lingard
The attacking midfielder impressed for the second pre-season running but injury has restricted his first team opportunities at Old Trafford.
Lingard hit the headlines last season after scoring four goals on his debut for Birmingham City whilst on loan.
The 22-year-old can play in a number of attacking positions and has shown flashes of what he can do on the small stage for United.
He joined Championship high-flyers Derby County on loan for the remainder of the season in January, where he has managed one assist in just 31 minutes of football so far.
Saidy Janko
The powerful winger was signed from FC Zurich on deadline day 2013, a move which went under the radar somewhat as David Moyes also splashed out a massive £27million on Marouane Fellaini on the same day.
Janko has been quietly going about his business in the Under-21 squad, and has impressed coach Warren Joyce with his performances.
“We saw him a couple of times out there and he played right-back, right-wing and also in a right-sided midfield role,” Joyce said. “He did well in all three positions.
“He came over on trial and made the most of his opportunity. He’s certainly a powerful boy. There are a lot of things that he has got to improve on but he is strong, quick and can go past people. He’s got some raw materials that we can work with.”
Janko is a Switzerland Under-19 international, although he is also qualified to play for Gambia. His first team debut was certainly one to forget, as he played in United’s 4-0 humiliation to MK Dons in the Capital One Cup in August.
Will Keane
Will Keane is considered one of the most promising young players on United’s books, and his first team opportunities would have been far more frequent had it not been for a nasty knee ligament injury which saw him iss an entire year of action.
The brother of Michael Keane who recently completed a permanent move to Burnley from Old Trafford, Will has been the top goalscorer at Academy level, and was given his first team debut in the home defeat to Blackburn Rovers in 2011.
Now back to full fitness, the Stockport born centre forward will be looking to add to that appearance next season.
Angelo Henriquez
The Chilean youngster was snapped up by Sir Alex Ferguson in a reported £3.5 million summer transfer in 2012, and despite promises from Fergie that he would be given the opportunity to play at Old Trafford, he is yet to make a competitive first team appearance.
Henriquez was the star of the 2011 South American Under-17 Championship and was named as one of the best five Under-17 players in the world by FourFourTwo magazine.
The teenager is a born finisher who is quick, intelligent and his skills have earned him the nickname of the ‘Chilean Ruud Van Nistelrooy’ with other fair comparisons to Javier Hernandez.
He is currently on loan at Dinamo Zagreb, where he has fired an impressive 11 goals in 16 appearances this season.
