For Alejandro Garnacho and his fellow Manchester United academy graduates, the 2022/23 campaign will be a big season.
Some laid down the game-time gauntlet in May when they lifted the FA Youth Cup in front of a packed Old Trafford, including Garnacho who netted twice during the match. He earned his senior debut last term, making two appearances in all with many academy followers excited about his progress.
The attacker netted 14 youth team goals last season and has scored four in four caps for Argentina Under-20s having just turned 18. And he’s not the only hopeful spying a place in Erik ten Hag’s first team squad.
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Hannibal Mejbri made his mark towards the end of the campaign, making a memorable cameo against Liverpool before being handed his first senior start on the final day of the season. He already has 16 caps for Tunisia and will hope to stake his claim going forward.
He and Garnacho have been included in Ten Hag’s pre-season tour squad, as have youngsters Charlie Savage and Zidane Iqbal, who both had solid outings in the 4-0 friendly win over Liverpool in Bangkok on Tuesday.
They have been joined by Will Fish, who replaces Axel Tuanzebe after the defender returned home. The school of starlets are all in Melbourne as United prepare for the Australia leg of the tour with Melbourne Victory the opponents on Friday.
In a press conference on Thursday ahead of the game, Ten Hag outlined what expects of his players and what they need to do to impress him. "From every area of the team, I want productivity,” he said.
“That's the most important thing, that players take the initiative on and off the ball, in offence and defence.” It makes the task clear for the likes of Garnacho and his teammates who saw his preference for youth at Ajax.
They will be determined to pull on this and show they have the ability to make a significant contribution to the first team ahead of an important season for the whole club.
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