Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hinted more Manchester United rookies could train with the first-team after Charlie Wellens took part in Wednesday's open session at Carrington.
Wellens, 16, was the surprise inclusion in the first-team training squad ahead of the Europa League group stage opener with Astana at Old Trafford this evening. Wellens's father, Richie, also came through the United academy and played once for the first-team in a League Cup defeat at Aston Villa in 1999.
The younger Wellens, born in Manchester, has made just five appearances for the United Under-18s and is not expected to make the matchday squad for the visit of the Kazakh side.
Solskjaer still stressed the experience of stepping up to the senior squad on a temporary basis is invaluable. He said: "It's what we do at this club at certain points. We drop them in with the first-team, give a little taste for it, obviously I know he's dad from when he played and Charlie's a very good footballer and today was a great day training with them.
"I remember when I was in the first-team, suddenly Febian Brandy training with us at 15 years of age. It's just one of them little drips to make them players."
On Jose Mourinho's watch, homegrown players Joe Riley, RoShaun Williams, Matty Willock, Zak Dearnley, Dean Henderson, Kieran O'Hara, Matthew Olosunde, Tosin Kehinde, Callum Gribbin, DJ Buffonge, Tahith Chong, James Garner and Mason Greenwood trained with the first-team or made matchday squads.
Mourinho gave debuts to academy graduates Joel Pereira, Axel Tuanzebe, Scott McTominay, Demetri Mitchell, Josh Harrop and Angel Gomes. Chong, Garner and Greenwood all debuted under Solskjaer last term.
Makabdlpt
0
Congratulations to Man Utd players for de win against Leicester. God bless u and de couch, wish u de best ahead of you. Amen. Ole try de young ones too, otherwise young sweeps better, but de old broom knows all the corners of the house.
Nokacmnru
1
It's a Young Shall Grow philosophy 😀
forzacmilanspursmanu
0
Problem we go back to mata , matic, young , lingard Rather then use youngsters!!
your view epitimises a problem being that most man utd fans are trend followers and lack wise football judgement ..
leo_akpomemike
2
other England boy 🤦🏻
wuacloptyz
0
The list is nnnnbl0
DaMhztourage
1
That's motivational exposure which will push them to work harder towards first team promotion
Urchman155
3
let see what they can do today Man Utd on the way
Tuzcnrtyz
1
Europe FIFA
dukcdimntu
0
its btr to use playrs who hve exprience thn young guyz
Himbelnoz
1
Try them when they are young and u can see wonders in them.
DeJonathan
2
Why not use these young boys, drop 💧 Lingard.
tosser
2
Still we are using lingard , young
mostafaishe
2
Problem we go back to mata , matic, young , lingard Rather then use youngsters!!
wesbcelnot
4
I LIKE THIS DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESS