Everything Manchester United Fans Need to Know About Cameron Borthwick-Jackson

There are players in the Manchester United youth set-up who bubble up into the public consciousness long before their first-team debut, but Cameron Borthwick-Jackson was not one of those players.

Players like Ravel Morrison and Paul Pogba attracted plenty of attention before they got their big breaks, but United's most recent debutant was less well known before Louis van Gaal named him in the squad to face West Bromwich on Saturday.

OLI SCARFF/Getty Images

Of course, dedicated followers of the academy set up knew plenty about him given that he made more appearances for United's under-18s than anyone else last season—31, per United's website. 

According to Doron Salomon, a United blogger for Stretford-End.com who specialises in youth-team coverage, the 18-year-old's best qualities are his consistency, concentration and calmness in possession.

Nick Poole, another noted observer of United's academy, shared Salomon's view of the youngster's consistency, describing him as "generally impressive and surprisingly steady and consistent for a kid but rarely flashy or eye-catching."

Van Gaal, speaking to MUTV (h/t the Mirror), said of the decision-making process behind putting Borthwick Jackson into the team: 

"

I have seen him once or twice and I have been impressed by him. I knew that Marouane Fellaini was injured, so I talked with [United reserve coach] Warren Joyce and asked what he had for me I’m always talking with him or [United academy coach] Paul McGuinness, and he said at the moment the left full-back is in good shape.

I needed a left full-back because Marcos Rojo had played a few games in a row, so I have to take into account that it might be too much.

I put Cameron in the line-up without any fear, and I have to say he did very well.

"

The basic profile of the youngster is that he plays at left-back or centre-back. While his build might seem better-suited for the centre-back role, Salomon asserts that United's under-18s last season had "a really excellent" back four, in which RoShaun Williams and Axel Tuanzebe, the academy's Player of the Season, had the centre-back positions locked down.

OLI SCARFF/Getty Images

Thus, Borthwick-Jackson played a good deal of football at left-back, as Tyler Blackett had done before him.

He is a local lad. He attended the same school as Morrison and Blackett and played for Fletcher Moss Rangers as a youth—whose alumni include Wes Brown and Danny Welbeck.

Adam Marshall of the club website wrote of Jackson, "He has been on the radar for some time, making his Under-21 debut as a 16-year-old and scoring the winner in the 2014 Milk Cup final. This term, he has been one of the stand-out performers in Warren Joyce's side, starting all five fixtures, and has also had three outings in the UEFA Youth League."

Marshall quoted Joyce as saying, "Cameron has been excellent this season, he has gone from strength to strength."

OLI SCARFF/Getty Images

He also quoted McGuiness having said of Borthwick-Jackson's performances for the academy last season, "Cameron has got all the equipment to do it, he's tall, strong and can run and play."

Both Salomon and Poole identified the youngster's mentality as key to his success so far. Poole said he has a "good temperament which probably played a part in getting the call-up for Saturday." Salomon said, "You get the impression from him that he's no trouble at all, a good/fast learner and is keen to succeed."

That kind of mentality will be key. First-team football may be hard to come by for a while for the youngster, except in the case of injuries taking their toll on the senior squad. There is plenty of competition for the left-back berth in Van Gaal's selection—his term for the squad.

OLI SCARFF/Getty Images

However, the manager has been more than willing to give youth a chance so far during his time in charge. Indeed, he is able to keep a small senior squad because of his willingness to call upon resources from the academy in times of need.

Borthwick-Jackson is the latest beneficiary of that approach. It will be intriguing to see how he develops in the years ahead.

All quotations obtained firsthand except where otherwise stated. Thanks to Doron Salomon (@DoronSalomon) and Nick Poole (@ManUnitedYouth) for their invaluable input.