Manchester United’s first half of the season has been disappointing, but the club’s supporters have reason to remain positive.
Their youth academy is still one of Europe’s best at producing talent, and they have some genuinely interesting prospects on their books.
We’ve looked at seven of them who will be able to make it through to the senior team in 2022. Note that no players with more than 10 first-team appearances for the club have been included.
Hannibal Mejbri:
Hannibal Mejbri has been earning praises at Old Trafford even at such young age, having joined United’s academy at the age of 16 in a £9.3 million purchase from French club AS Monaco.
The 18-year-old midfielder is known for his creativity and precision on the ball, and he might fill the space left by Paul Pogba if in case the French midfielder leaves.
In 2020-21, he was named Manchester United’s Academy Player of the Season and made his senior debut against Wolves in the month of May 2021 as a late substitution.
Must Read: Exclusive: Our top 10 United academy graduates of all time
Mejbri has recently gained international experience, starring for Tunisia in the 2021 Arab Cup before being picked to their Africa Cup of Nations team.
Shola Shoretire:
Shola Shoretire has already made history at Manchester United, being the club’s youngest ever player in European competition when he came on against Real Sociedad in February 2021.
The versatile attacker, who will turn 18 next month, has been a consistent performer for the club’s Under-23s this season, scoring 14 goals in 31 matches.
Also, Read: Shola Shoretire wins the Jimmy Murphy young player of the year award
United attacking midfielder Jesse Lingard appears to be on his way out of Old Trafford due to lack of playing time, and Shoretire will be vying for his spot in the first team.
Ethan Laird:
Ethan Laird will be looking to push his claim for a starting spot at United in 2022, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot struggling to impress at Old Trafford.
The right-back made a smooth transition to the Championship with Swansea City after gaining his taste of first-team football at League One club Millwall in 2020-21.
He had four assists and received high praise for his performance in Wales, but he will now spend the second half of the 2021-22 season on loan at Bournemouth who is comfortably sitting at the top of the Championship table.
Also, Read: Manchester United teenager Ethan Laird joins Bournemouth on loan
When Bournemouth boss Scott Parker goes to Old Trafford at the end of the season, we wouldn’t be surprised if he says the same thing.
Anthony Elanga:
Anthony Elanga made his first-senior debut in the month of May 2021 against Wolves after starring for United’s Under-23s. He scored his first senior goal in a 2-1 win over Wolves in the same match.
As reported by the club’s official website, former United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had praised Elanga way back in July 2021 by saying:
“Players who score goals and have that enthusiasm and energy… we want to play a pressing game and there are no frills.”
“If you asked him at half-time to run over to the cricket ground and get us a drink, he’d do it, because he’s that type of lad and that’s the type that has been brought through the academy, and these are the boys you love to see do well.”
Rangnick appears to have put his faith in the winger, with him coming off the bench in recent Premier League games against Crystal Palace and Wolves.
He’s been linked with a loan transfer in recent weeks, but he might use Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford’s drop-in form to his advantage.
James Garner:
The oldest player on our list, James Garner made his senior United debut on the 27th of February 2019 against Crystal Palace. Despite playing well for the Under-23s, he has only made six appearances for the club since then.
However, he is presently on loan at Nottingham Forest, where he has shown off his brilliant passing skills on several occasions.
As reported by The Mirror, Solskjaer had also called him the next Michael Carrick:
“I believe he’s got the chance to have a great future. He knows we believe in him, we’ve got great faith in him as the next Michael Carrick.”
This season, United’s midfield woes have been well-chronicled, and Garner will be looking to show that he can be the answer in 2022. He’s had a strong start to his career, having played in Forest’s FA Cup win over Arsenal.
Charlie McNeill:
McNeill, who had scored over 600 goals for Manchester City’s youth squads, was signed by United against competition from Juventus and RB Leipzig.
He’s kept on putting them in for United, and he’ll be trying to follow in the footsteps of Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood, who also came through the academy.
Because our most dependable strikers Edinson Cavani and Cristiano Ronaldo are both in their mid-thirties, the 18-year-old striker could be promoted to the first team very soon.
Teden Mengi:
Manchester United center-back Teden Mengi made his first-senior debut in a Europa League match against LASK in August 2020, after captaining the club at several youth levels.
As reported by The Goal, Solskjaer had said:
“We always had that in the back of our minds, that our academy will provide players, and Teden has definitely impressed me. Teden’s got something special in him. It’s about picking the right moment to give him a chance.”
In 2021, the tall center-back made nine Championship appearances for Wayne Rooney’s Derby County before joining Birmingham City for the second half of the season.
With the futures of current center-back Phil Jones and Eric Bailly uncertain, Teden Mengi could climb up the pecking order in 2022.
