Lee Sharpe has voiced concerns that Ruben Amorim might find it challenging to bring through many academy players this season after taking over a Manchester United squad with an excess of players from Erik ten Hag.. The ex-United winger feels the club’s young talents may have to get used to Amorim’s style of play before they see action in the first team. United have long been celebrated for their commitment to youth development, with Ethan Wheatley being the 250th academy product to make the senior team.. Toby Collyer followed as the 251st when he played against Manchester City in the Community Shield, but no new graduates have joined the ranks since then. Although Amorim has been assessing several young prospects, including 16-year-old defender Godwill Kukonki, the return of injured players has allowed him to populate the bench with experienced squad members, thus reducing chances for the youngsters.. Sharpe predicts this trend will persist for the rest of the season, particularly while Amorim is embedding his tactics among the first-team players. Speaking to Express Sport, Sharpe said: “I know they’ve got a couple of forwards who everyone’s raving about and a couple of other players that are just on the fringes of the first team.. “It’s always important at United. It’s important to have a manager who encourages the youth set-up to come through and give young players a chance. But I’m not sure.”. Meanwhile, Dimitar Berbatov said: “In his first season with the in-depth squad he’s got, looking at the bench, there won’t be too many new faces coming through this season unless, of course, they fit into the system that he wants to play.. “I don’t know whether that’s going to be an easy thing for him because United have never really played three at the back and played wing-backs. So I’m sure there’s a couple of holding midfielders that he might want to look at and a couple of forwards.. “But as far as wing-backs and centre-halves that can play in a three, I think the whole group of players – from the Under-16s and Under-18s upwards – all may have to look at changing the way they approach games.”. Manchester United has a wealth of talented young players at its disposal, especially in the dominant U18 team. Players like Chido Obi Martin, Amir Ibragimov, Shea Lacey, and Jayce Fitzgerald have generated a lot of excitement.. However, they might have to wait a bit longer to make an impact on the first team while Amorim lays the groundwork for his long-term plan.
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