(Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)
Few stories in football can be more romantic than that of a young kid, stepping into the league of men and making an instant impact. This season the old Trafford faithful have seen two such stories unfold, one of the Brazilian starlet Rafael Da Silva and other of a certain 'Kiko' Macheda.
Its no surprise that all sporting tabloids are flooded with lyrical pieces about them.
No, this article wont be another one of those. This one will focus on other young players waiting for their moment under the sun for Manchester United. Next season might be the one in which they explode into the big scene.
1. David Petrucci
An Italian like Macheda, is just 16 years of age and already earning rave reviews for his performances in the under-18s for United and for the United reserves. Poached from the AS Roma youth setup in 2008, Petrucci is a attacking midfielder.
"Davide is an all-round midfield player," says Reds U18s boss Paul McGuinness. "He does a bit of everything; he can win the ball, distribute it well, a good range of creative passing and he has a hell of a shot on him.
"He likes to shoot as well and he has the potential to score plenty of goals from midfield, either with a long range shot or bursting into the box to score with his feet or from a header."
With Scholsey definitely in his last few footballing years, Ferguson might be tempted to draft in this Italian next season. Giving chances in the Carling Cup specially as Anderson has largely looked incapable of providing the ten odd goals per season which Scholsey could.
Adem Ljajić is a Serbian attacking midfielder set to join Man Utd in January 2010, from his current club Partizan.
Last year a handful of European sides, including Inter Milan and Spartak Moscow, tried to sign Ljajic. The midfielder stayed in Serbia after signing a three-year contract with Partizan.
It’s expected that United have paid £7million for Adem Ljajic.
Again an exciting prospect and given his versatility to slot in to the right hand side of midlfield can prove to be a good player to have in the squad.
He is a very highly rated youngster by the United hierarchy. Might get a few chances next year but it will be the 2010-2011 season in which one could expect things from him.
3. Zoran Tosic
A 21-year-old does not really qualify as a youngster these days, yet I take the liberty of mentioning his name here. If the United reserves people are to be believed this new recruit is being tipped as a long term replacement to Giggs on the left flank.
They say he has the balance, pace and dead ball skills to be able to fit giggsy's boots. He has not been given a first team start since joining United but is sure to get a few next season.
There are other players like Wellbeck and Fabio who have had their little chances this season and have impressed. Next season might see them become megastars in the red shirt along with the likes of Macheda and Rafael.
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