Manchester United held an open training session on Wednesday, following transfer deadline day, and it saw some academy involvement.
It was a dreadfully quiet transfer deadline day for Manchester United, but now that the window has passed, focus is all on the football, and Michael Carrick has a very strong and cohesive side at his disposal.
The squad matches up nicely against most in the league despite spending hundreds of millions less than other clubs.
With the smaller first-team group, Carrick has the benefit of a brilliant academy group to bolster the ranks, and he has now brought three into training on Wednesday.
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Seeing United’s squad in training is a reminder of the quality that Carrick currently has, making the meltdown after deadline day look slightly melodramatic.
On Wednesday, Carrick has had three youngsters in training, including Harry Amass, after the left-back was denied a deadline day move and instead kept as part of the first-team and back-up to Luke Shaw.
JJ Gabriel was also involved in the session as he maintains a close contact with the first-team group. Gabriel has been unstoppable for the U21s and is absolutely banging on the door of a proper senior debut for United.
Additionally, Yuel Helafu was in training with the first-team on Wednesday, seen at the back of a clip during the running drills. Helafu is a really exciting talent for United at right-back, one who has consistently been handed opportunities to step up into the first-team.
These are three exciting involvements, with Amass’ standing in the first team more solidified right now, and he is likely in line to play against Sabah in the Champions League next week.
Amass is almost certain to get plenty of game time this season due to being second to Luke Shaw, but the prospects of Gabriel are also very exciting.
Clearly, at the very top of U21 football already, the next logical decision would be to bring Gabriel into the first-team fold at the age of 15.
He is doing everything possible to warrant this with his effortless step into U21 football this season, and Carrick may oblige this month.
Gabriel should debut against Brighton in the League Cup if not against Sabah, and if he can make that jump, then suddenly he could be a permanent fixture.
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