Amorim must unleash Man Utd’s 18-year-old “goal threat”

Manchester United’s academy has produced some exceptional players in recent years. This could date back as long as the Busby Babes, but looking at the last few seasons, there are several huge names who have graduated from the esteemed Carrington academy.

Marcus Rashford is perhaps the biggest, with the Wythenshawe-born sensation making 426 appearances and scoring 138 times for his boyhood club. More recently, Kobbie Mainoo broke into the first team, and whilst life is tough for him at the moment under Ruben Amorim, he is held in very high regard by the Old Trafford faithful.

Another Carrington graduate who has shone in the last 12 months is Scott McTominay.

McTominay’s incredible last 12 months

Scotland international McTominay has shone during his season and a half at Napoli so far. He moved from Old Trafford, where he had been his whole life, for a fee of just £25.7m. That would prove to be a bargain for the Serie A outfit.

The 29-year-old has made 59 appearances for the Naples club, showing his threat in the final third and how hard-working he is off the ball. He’s found the back of the net 18 times and assisted nine in that time.

Twice in just a few short months, he has helped lead the club to silverware. McTominay was a key member of the Scudetto-winning side, scoring a remarkable overhead kick in the game which sealed the title. This week, he added to that by helping Napoli lift the Italian Super Cup.

He has been greatly rewarded for his form in a Napoli shirt, in the form of personal accolades. McTominay won the Serie A player of the year last season and finished in 18th place in the Ballon d’Or.

It was a sensational year for the ex-United star, who may wish they still had him at their disposal today. Well, they may have the new version of the Scot coming through the academy again.

Man United’s new McTominay

There has been an influx of academy involvement in Amorim’s first team over the last few games. Tyler Fredricson and Bendito Mantato were unused substitutes against Aston, and Shea Lacey made his debut.

The winger was not the only academy debut at Villa Park. Jack Fletcher, son of United legend Darren, was brought off the bench, playing 17 minutes and becoming the 255th graduate of the esteemed Carrington.

Aside from his first-team bow last weekend, Fletcher has made a strong impression for the academy this season. He’s made 13 appearances across all competitions, scoring and assisting three goals apiece.

United are looking for their new McTominay, and in the 18-year-old midfielder, they may have someone who can eventually fill his boots.

There are certainly similarities between the pair, not least because they are eligible to play for Scotland. The Napoli star, of course, does, and Fletcher could in the future, although he does represent England U19s at the moment.

However, there are more similarities than just that. McTominay, of course, has proved to be a real handful in the opposition box, especially in a Napoli shirt, and that is something that Fletcher excels at, too.

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The new United first-teamer was described as a “goal threat” by Red Devils academy-centred page Academy Scoop over on X. He already has 11 goals for the club’s academy, showing he certainly has that same threat in the final third that McTominay possesses.

Losing McTominay was certainly a blow for United, but it must be a good feeling for United fans to see him achieving so much in Naples. They will now be hoping that, in Fletcher, they have someone who can be like the second coming of their academy graduate.

The fact that he has made his debut is positive, and it seems like the future is bright for another member of the Fletcher family.

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