Manchester United are routinely looking at the best ways to support their senior and youth squads develop throughout their footballing journeys, from loan spells, to stepping up through the youth ranks and joining senior team training sessions.
With such impressive potential in the youth academy, United are keen to harness it in the right way to develop the best of the future of the Red Devils.
Already 14-year-old JJ Gabriel has been inducted to the ranks for the Under-18s, being personally monitored by Ruben Amorim as he holds the second highest goalscorer in the league after a first half hattrick against Derby County.
Whilst the Under-18s tend to be supported up through the ranks, training with the higher year groups for exposure, the Under-21s more then often sway towards loan spells to get more experience of first-team senior football.
Now however, the Under-21s side have hosted a match at Carrington against a PFA XI on Wednesday afternoon.
The PFA XI is made up of a selection of free agents, giving them a pre-season camp to train at whilst searching for a new club, also playing friendly matches, seeing today’s fixture at Carrington as the last in their calendar.
United started the game impressively, seeing Diego Leon make his first start for the side, with United holding most of the possession, however a brief turnover saw Connor Wickham fire the ball from the halfway line, hitting the back of the net, catching the keeper Will Murdock off guard, to put the PFA ahead.
Just before halftime, Shea Lacey managed to draw the two sides level reacting to a stray ball after a corner, and from outside of the box, curled the ball into the top left corner, crashing in off the post.
The game ultimately ended 1-1, with the United youngsters holding the free agents to the draw.
