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Manchester United continue to train in Ireland, and the experience is an important one for the youngsters with the group.
With the under-21s taking on Real Madrid this week at Old Trafford, there were only a handful of academy players joining the first team squad in Ireland.
Yuel Helafu is the youngest player with the group, owing to the right-back’s rapid rise at academy level this season.
Diogo Dalot was also missing through illness, and Helafu’s inclusion could be a signal that he is already considered to be a back-up option.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images Who was Man United U21’s man of the match vs Real Madrid?
Despite a 4-2 loss, there were plenty of performances worth being excited about.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images Yuel Helafu’s impressive rise
Yuel Helafu has a real chance of progressing into the first team if his current trajectory is anything to go by.
Helafu only turned 17 in September and has really caught the eye at under-18s level this season, a key player in Darren Fletcher’s side.
His main focus this season will be the upcoming Premier League Cup Final later this month, and next week’s FA Youth Cup semi-final.
And so this experience training with the first team is a huge learning opportunity for the talented full-back.
Longer term he will have his eyes on a pre-season spot, especially with Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui set to feature at the World Cup.
The right-back position is wide open for United’s first pre-season fixture.
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Getty Images Jim Thwaites also involved
Talented central midfielder Jim Thwaites was also part of the first team training camp, and he was pictured (top) with Helafu.
Thwaites, 18, will also join Helafu in the upcoming cup competitions at youth level.
Michael Carrick and his coaching staff will learn a lot about the pair based on how they have trained and assimilated with the first team squad.
But they will also be noting how they perform back at academy level between now and the end of the season.
Both players have a chance to break into the first team squad next season, and this is just the start.
Which youngster are you MOST excited to watch during pre-season?
With the World Cup this summer, pre-season will have plenty of academy involvement🔮
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