Manchester United's 6 Best Teenagers on the Books at Old Trafford

Potential, according to Sir Alex Ferguson, is a very difficult thing to find.

He has always been a master at it and you only have to look at the homegrown players that have worn the colors of United over the years.

My father once met Brian Kidd, the man partially credited with the emergence of Giggs, Scholes, Beckham etc, at the Milk Cup tournament in Northern Ireland and he asked him what is it United look for in players.

"Four things" he said. "Temperament, a good first touch, football intelligence and a big heart." "We can teach them everything else" he added.

Here are six teenagers on the books at United that have the potential to become first-team regulars.

They range from young professionals to first-year scholars.

1. Zeki Fryers

Age: 19  Position: Defence

Ezekiel "Zeki" Fryers has already made six appearances for United, excelling at a left-back position.

He is fast, tall and strong and has all the physical attributes to make a top-class full-back in England. 

He may be rash with his positioning at times but at 19 he has all the chances in the world to make the left-back position his own as Evra's age pushes on.

2. Paul Pogba

Age: 18  Position: Midfield

If reports of his apparent want for a move away from OT are true, United are set to lose a very promising midfielder.

Dynamic and talented, Pogba has both physical and technical attributes to make it at the highest level.

I really see him as being one of the best all round midfielders in the world.

3. Gyliano Van Velzen

Age: 17  Position: Winger

Tall, athletic and pacy, Van Velzen was signed from Ajax in 2010.

One of the more experienced players in Paul McGuinness' under-18 side with a seasons experience, the winger is still only 17.

He has a natural game understanding seen with most of the players produced in Holland. He uses this intelligence together with his physical attributes and he looks like a player ready to step into the first team.

4. Mats Daehli

Age: 16  Position: Midfield

"A little bit of Xavi and a little bit of Iniesta"—according to a club official at Daehli's previous club Stabaek.

The Norwegian has been brilliant from what I have seen from him this year.

He is composed on the ball and really looks like a Manchester United player. He has vision, creativity and that little bit of guile needed at the highest level.  

5. Larnell Cole

Age: 18  Position: Midfield

It seems like Cole has been around for at least a couple of years but the Manchester-born midfielder is still only 18.

He accelerates very quickly and is even quicker over longer distances.

He will be pushing for a position on the subs bench next season. 

6. Sam Byrne

Age: 16  Position: Forward

One of the most promising young strikers to come out of the famous Dublin District Schoolboys League (biggest schoolboy league in the world) since Robbie Keane nearly two decades ago. 

The young man from the southside of Dublin has bundles of ability and determination.

He scored 36 goals in his last season at St. Josephs Boys in the Premier Division of the DDSL. Some scouts say this league is as tough as some of the English Academy games.

Having seen him in the flesh many times, I fully believe that he will make the grade in England whether it be at United or another team in the league.