Teenager Alvaro Fernandez has been chosen as Manchester United’s Under-23 player of the year.
The 19-year-old joins the likes of Nicky Butt, John O’Shea and Darren Fletcher as a winner of the award - known as the Denzil Haroun Reserve-Team Player of the Year. He becomes the first Spaniard to win the accolade, and will be presented the honour before tonight’s Youth Cup final at Old Trafford.
Nick Cox, head of academy, and club captain Harry Maguire will hand him the award. Having been named on the bench, Fernandez is yet to make his senior debut for United but has managed to net three goals and provide four assists from left-back in Premier League 2.
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This is in addition to his goal against Villarreal in the UEFA Youth League group stages and subsequent assists in the reverse fixture and versus Atalanta. Cox praised Fernandez for his efforts this season.
He told club media: “Alvaro has been a standout performer from a really strong group of players within our Under-23s team.
“We deliberately keep this age group young and that is certainly evidenced by the fact that Alvaro has won this award despite only turning 19 in March. Alvaro has developed a lot this season, playing an important role in Premier League 2, the Youth League, the EFL Trophy and also progressing with Spain’s Under-19s.
"Alvaro has also been an excellent role model and support for his team-mates, displaying all of the characteristics that the academy want to see from our young players.”
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