It was hard to miss Tahith Chong’s distinctive silhouette – even through the tinted glass of the United team bus as it pulled up outside the players’ entrance at St James’ Park on Wednesday night.
The 19-year-old followed Jesse Lingard and Victor Lindelof up those steps at Barrack Road to an away dressing room for a competitive game for the first time as a United player.
Chong previously travelled on United’s pre-season tour of the US and, amid an injury crisis, made the bench for the Champions League clash with Juventus at Old Trafford. But this was another small step in his development.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had all six of his first-choice forwards available but still wanted Chong to experience the buzz of a Premier League away day for the first time. Just as James Garner did in Cardiff for Solskjaer‘s first game as interim manager.
Solskjaer has been to keen to make sure every player feels involved – even when they are not playing or in the match day squad – and the academy has certainly benefited.
Solskjaer, after all, wanted some of these players on loan when he was Molde manager and he has already identified three players in the under-18s who are ‘knocking on the door’.
One of them is surely Mason Greenwood. While the 17-year-old’s talent has certainly impressed United’s senior pros, they have also been encouraged by his manners and attitude. Something that also applies to Gomes, Chong and Garner.
Given the unlikelihood of United making a signing in January, these players will keep the first team on their toes. They know that Solskjaer would not think twice about throwing one or two of them into the match day squad.
Which could well be the case for the FA Cup third-round clash against Reading on Saturday.
Before Solskjaer even looks to the academy, he has a number of internationals who need minutes: Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez, Marouane Fellaini and Andreas Pereira have yet to start a game under the Norwegian; Scott McTominay and Matteo Darmian have not played; and summer signings Diogo Dalot and Fred have started just one game each.
The above-mentioned would take eight places in the starting line-up, while Sergio Romero, Phil Jones and Victor Lindelof will all surely start, but there could be one or two openings on the bench for United’s hottest academy prospects.
Depending how the tie against the Championship strugglers plays out, there may yet be one or two debuts in the offing.