Manchester United: 5 Teen Prospects Ready for the 1st Team This Season

In a market tainted by the over-indulgent spending of their noisy neighbours, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson’s stock reversion—blind faith even—on the club’s expansive youth structure is admirable.

Whatever Alan Hansen might have said, however, following the cataclysmic shift towards the northwest on the back “Fergie’s fledglings”—the early 90’s side, coined in testament to the original incarnation of the young Manchester United “Busby Babes,” some of whom tragically lost their lives in the Munich air disaster—youth is now quite literally the future.

The current United, apart from a few longer numbers on the birth certificates, are no different to their predecessors. Manchester United now, as then, still rules the youthful waves.

With this in mind, therefore why not take a whimsical look at five of the brightest teen prospects currently on the Red Devils roster.

HE’S YOUNG, HE’S RED…but is he actually any good?

Federico Macheda: Italian Striker: Born 22nd August 1991: Age 19

The hype surrounding the young Italian reached fever pitch two years ago, when a then 17-year-old Macheda scored a crucial late goal against Aston Villa that essentially turned the title race in United’s favour.

The young Italian youth international was signed from Lazio, way back in 2007, as United took advantage of the exploitative restrictions that stop Italian clubs from signing their pre-16-year-old talent to professional terms.

After his explosion onto the world stage in 2009, 2010/2011 was rather mundane by comparison for Macheda. However, a nightmare loan to Italian first division side Sampdoria which culminated in the Blucerchiati’s relegation from Italy’s premier division for the first time in eight years.

Macheda, to compound the nightmare, failed to register a goal.

Now back at United, this could, after a year's sabbatical, be the return of the Macheda.

Paul Pogba: French Central Midfielder: Born March 15th 1993: Age 18

The tri in Manchester United’s youth team trifecta. Paul Pogba, alongside his partners in crime (sorry awful pun when your talking about Ravel Morrison), Morrison and Ryan Tunnicliffe, have emerged strongly on the boss’ radar.

With Tunnicliffe, currently otherwise engaged (on loan at Preston hence his emission from this list), it is the defensive-minded French wonder-kid who may well get the first chance to shine.

A player with an apparent penchant for scoring overtly spectacular wonder goals, Pogba has been a part of the United youth system since he was “poached” from boyhood club Le Havre in 2009.

The clubs have since reached an agreement as to Pogba’s subsequent integration into the United set-up.

Described as a cross in style between Patrick Viera and Abou Diaby, Sir Alex Ferguson will be hoping for more of the former if Pogba gets his chance this season.

Ravel Morrison: English Attacking Midfielder: Born 2nd Febuary 1993: Age 18

The case of Ravel Morrison is a curious one. A prodigiously talented playmaker in the Paul Scholes ilk, with a temperament as comparable to Paul Scholes’ as Anne Widdecombe’s beauty is to Megan Fox’s. They are chalk and cheese.

The ginger assassin was a shadow of the pitch there, but not there, a quiet man made even quieter away from the game—a coach's dream.

Ravel Morrison is a violent thug who revels in his gangland connections, and if it were not for a god-given talent that many a man would take Anne Widdecombe’s virginity for, he would have been out of the Old Trafford revolving door as fast as Alex Ferguson could throw him.

Many an insider at Old Trafford hope that, at only 18 years of age, Morrison’s “faze,” is simply vestiges of immaturity, and that he is not a genetically predisposed bad egg.

Ironically if a spell in the first team doesn’t “cure” him, the next time we see Morrison (after he is shown the door at United), could be on the TV, loitering on a street corner as our friend Anne Widdecombe tackles gangs.

Neither of them want that.

Will Keane: English Striker: Born 11th January 1993: Age 18

Brothers have become kind of a forte at Old Trafford in recent times.

First their were the forefathers Garry and Phil, spawn of Neville, Neville. Then there were Jonny and Cory—I don’t think they were spawn of Neville—Evans. Then the boys from Brazil parked their samba mobile as Rafael and Fabio—connection to Neville hard to establish—Da Silva, rolled into town.

And now, we have some new kids on the block as Will and Michael—very unlikely to be related to Neville—Keane, look set for their shot at the big time in the not too distant future.

Michael, a full back for the youth side has received glowing praise, but it is his twin brother Will, a forward, who has been stealing the headlines.

After grabbing a hat-trick in last season's dismantling of Chelsea youth in the ultimately successful FA Youth Cup run, Keane was included in the provisional squad for the Champions league First Knockout Round.

He didn’t make his debut, or indeed the bench, but if he carries last season's momentum into this, Will Keane could see pitch time this time around. And where Will leads Michael is bound to follow right?

Phil Jones: English Centre-Back / Defensive Mid: Born 21st Febuary 1992: Age 19

Purchased for the princely sum of north of 16 million last month, Nemanja Vidic’s long-lost English son has finally been reunited with his dad. ( I might be being slightly facetious in the aforementioned statement, but their respective kamikaze, body on the line playing styles remind me of one another. Please forgive me.)

Only 19 years of age, the signing of Jones is quite a coup for Sir Alex amidst interest from a plethora of his Premiership rivals. It was United though that stole a march on their lackadaisical rivals (and Arsene Wenger who didn’t have enough change), to sign the highly rated defender.

With the exorbitant fee, for what is an untested player, likely to dominate Jones’ early career at United, it will be interesting to see how much faith Sir Alex places in the 19-year-old this term.

Dad and son reunited at the back anyone? Heartwarming.