Manchester United’s Under-18s visit Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Friday in the quarter-final of the FA Youth Cup.
For many of the Red Devils’ youngsters, the competition is a chance to impress in a highly prestigious competition, and Friday’s match against the Gunners is set to be a huge occasion, with plenty of eyes on the talent on show.
It is the first time United travel to face Arsenal in the competition since a 2007 semi-final in which Danny Welbeck, Danny Drinkwater and Tom Cleverley all turned out for the Red Devils.
Here, Standard Sport runs the rule over four stars hoping to impress for Manchester United when they take on Arsenal…
Jack Fletcher and Tyler Fletcher
The twin brothers, sons of former United midfielder Darren Fletcher, spent nine years in Manchester City’s academy before joining rivals United for a combined fee of £1.25 million in July 2023.
Attacking midfielder Jack Fletcher was on the bench for three straight Premier League games in October and November, against Brentford, West Ham and Chelsea, and again in the 1-0 defeat at Tottenham earlier this month.
He was also among the substitutes in October’s 5-2 Carabao Cup win over Leicester City, but is yet to be handed his first-team debut.
Tyler Fletcher, a central midfielder, has played the full 90 minutes in all three of United’s matches in the Youth Cup this season, as the Red Devils scored five in each match to breeze past Coventry, Preston and Chelsea.
As well as plenty of game time in the U18 Premier League, both have featured in the Premier League 2 — the U21 version — this season, with the Scots having each scored once in the latter competition.
Gabriele Biancheri
The 18-year-old joined Manchester United in February 2023 from Cardiff, the city in which he was born.
He was spotted by the Red Devils when he earned an early promotion to Cardiff’s U21 side after prolific scoring form for their younger age groups.
Eligible to represent Italy or Wales, he is represented by Unique Sports Group, one of the largest agencies in English football.
In just two appearances for United in their run to the Youth Cup quarter-finals, he has scored three times and assisted twice, and has netted eights goals in as many games in the U18 Premier League this term, scoring three times in the UEFA Youth League to boot.
Harry Amass
Potentially more of a household name than the others, Amass has also never played for Manchester United at senior level, but he has had much more involvement in matchday squads for the Red Devils, making six already this season.
The Londoner, who is 17, operates as a left-back or at left wing-back and is an England international at U18 level.
He might well have ended up elsewhere in March 2023, when Chelsea but pushing for his signature. But, as Standard Sport reported at the time, United won the race to sign the highly-rated youngster who was starring for Watford’s academy.
Speaking on United’s pre-season tour of the United States last summer, he was asked when his first-team chance might come. “I think if you're good enough, then age doesn't matter,” he replied.
First thing’s first: Friday’s battle with Arsenal.
