As top-flight club football pauses for the October international break, the latest Academy Briefing provides highlights of a dramatic Under-21s victory in a brand-new competition and checks in with our young Reds out on loan in the United Kingdom and further afield.
UNDER-21s MAKE WINNING START
Goals from Malachi Sharpe, Ethan Ennis and substitute Victor Musa took our Under-21s to a well-earned victory in the opening game of the new National League Cup. Coming up against tough opposition in Forest Green Rovers, who sit second in the National League, United traded four first-half goals with the hosts before Musa's second-half winner.
United: Mee; Ogunneye (Fredricson 63), Jackson, Kingdon, Rowe; McAllister (Moorhouse 68), Gore (Kukonki 76); Sharpe, Baumann, Mather (Williams 68); Ennis (Musa 68).
Goals: Sharpe 29, Ennis 33, Musa 77.
SONNY ALJOFREE (Accrington Stanley, League Two)
After heading out to Altrincham as part of our innovative loan scheme last season — whereby players train with United but have playing opportunities elsewhere — 19-year-old defender Aljofree went one step further with a full loan move to Accrington Stanley at the end of the window.
Fresh off the back of a new long-term contract at United, Aljofree has had to be patient for chances at Stanley but made his debut in senior football just last weekend.
“I’ve really enjoyed it so far,”
Aljofree told us when we checked in recently.
“The staff and players are top. I’ve had to be quite patient and wait for my opportunity to get into the team. So it felt even better on the weekend making my league debut and also getting the three [points] at the home stadium, and having my family there.
“Hopefully I can kick on and play as many games as I can now so I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season.”
RHYS BENNETT (Fleetwood Town, League Two)
After one appearance on loan at Stockport County in the same division last season, Rhys Bennett has shown his quality at both ends already with Fleetwood Town. He came off the bench to equalise late on in the Carabao Cup third round at Stoke City, with a thumping header reminiscent of his goal in the 2022 FA Youth Cup final. Rhys captained the side on that record-breaking day at Old Trafford, leading out a team including Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho.
And last Saturday, Bennett put in a fantastic last-minute, last-ditch block on his sixth appearance. He’s since started another game, helping the Cod Army to a 3-0 victory over Barrow in the EFL Trophy.
“Enjoying it a lot and gaining experience which is the main thing!”
the 20-year-old replied to us when we checked in.
ELYH HARRISON (Chester, National League North)
With three clean sheets from five games, Elyh Harrison is enjoying an excellent start to life in senior football.
The 18-year-old made 27 appearances across all teams last season for United, helping the Under-18s to an unprecedented trio of trophies.
After being named Denzil Haroun Reserve-Team Player of the Year, Harrison joined Chester at the end of the summer window and has conceded only twice since.
He most recently faced off against fellow Reds goalkeeper Tom Wooster, who was keeping net on loan for Farsley Celtic in the National League North.
JOE HUGILL (Wigan Athletic, League One)
As Nick Cox, Director of Academy, told us in September, loans can look very different for each player.
“For some players, this is their second or third spell away from the club,”
he said.
“Others have spent some time at other clubs as part of our Pro Experience Programme, which helps set them up for full loans, and others will be away from Carrington for the first time.”
For Hugill, this is his third time out on loan, after time on work experience with Altrincham and a half-season at Burton Albion, where he scored his first Football League goal within minutes on his debut. He also netted for us in pre-season against Rangers.
He’s hit the back of the net three times with Wigan Athletic already, netting a double in a 4-0 win away at Bristol Rovers and one in September’s EFL Trophy tie at home to Morecambe.
“Hi guys, really enjoying it,” Hugill told us.
“It’s been a good start but hopefully can kick on and climb the table even more.”
The Latics sit 15th in League One but are just three points behind the play-off spots and are unbeaten since August.
TOM MYLES (Runcorn Linnets, NPL Division One West)
Tom made an impressive 20 appearances for the Under-18s during the 2023/24 campaign, as the youngsters won both the Premier League title and the Premier League Cup.
Gaining his first experience of senior football with Runcorn Linnets, Myles has played all eight games since signing for Runcorn, including making his debut within a few hours of the deal’s completion.
The 18-year-old has kept three clean sheets with one particularly memorable reflex save against Vauxhall Motors in a 1-0 away win.
JAMES NOLAN (Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Scottish League One)
An Under-21s regular last season, 18-year-old Nolan joined Inverness Caledonian Thistle on deadline day and is due to stay with the Scottish League One side until the end of the season.
With five league appearances and one goal so far, Nolan is enjoying life up in Scotland.
“I came up and I now just want to impress and do my very best for the team,”
he said after signing.
“I’m really pleased to be here and grateful for the opportunity.”
RADEK VITEK (BW Linz, Austrian Bundesliga)
United’s goalkeeper in the 2022 FA Youth Cup-winning side, Vitek put in some highly impressive performances with Accrington Stanley last season and earned plaudits for several strong saves in our pre-season friendly against Rosenborg in Norway.
He’s now earned a move to top-tier Austrian side Blau-Weiss Linz and kept two clean sheets in his first three games. He's since been ruled out with injury but is expected to return soon and we wish him luck with this next portion of the campaign.
TOM WOOSTER (Farsley Celtic, National League North)
Fresh off the back of a meeting with his goalkeeping colleague Harrison, Wooster's Farsley Celtic side sit 11th in the National League North. Tom has made four appearances for the West Yorkshire club, who have four wins from 10 games so far.
Wooster could feature in the FA Cup this weekend, with Farsley at home to Kettering Town on Saturday in the fourth qualifying round. It's an opportunity for the Celt Army to reach the first round proper for the first time in 2006.
COMING UP
Many of our young players are enjoying time away with their international squads over the next week, including midfielder Toby Collyer who has earned a first call-up to England's Under-20 squad. Find out more details here.
The Under-18s are next in action on Saturday 19 October at Sunderland (12:30 BST). The next Academy Briefing will provide full details of upcoming MUTV coverage, as well as the latest news from Carrington.