UK Media Introduces New Stars at Manchester United: Ten Hag Aims to Forge a “New Rashford” to Inspire the Team

The UK’s Mirror has published a report introducing five new stars that Erik ten Hag has brought along on Manchester United’s US tour. The manager hopes one of them will emerge in the style of Marcus Rashford, providing a significant boost to the team.

Several Manchester United players have been involved in the 2024 European Championship and Copa America, but the fatigue following these major tournaments could affect pre-season preparations. As a result, ten Hag has included many young players from the academy squad, hoping they can make a name for themselves in matches against Arsenal, Betis, and Liverpool in the US, thus securing more playing time in the first team during the new season.

One of these players is Amad Diallo, who scored the winning goal in extra time during an FA Cup match in March, eliminating Liverpool and becoming a hero for Manchester United. He was one of the best-performing players at the end of last season and also scored in a match against Rangers. Ten Hag has high hopes for this 22-year-old Ivory Coast international.

The second player is Toby Collyer. This 20-year-old joined Manchester United from Brighton in 2022 and recently extended his contract with the club until 2027. Last season, he played seven Premier League matches as a substitute for Manchester United. The third player is Ethan Whitely. This 18-year-old forward has been with Manchester United since his childhood and is a prolific goalscorer, capable on both feet and still growing (currently 1.85 meters tall). Last season, he scored 22 goals for the U18 and U21 teams and made a substitute appearance in a match against Sheffield United in April.

The fourth player is Harry Amass, who came on as a substitute in the Manchester United vs. Liverpool match in April. This left-back, an England U17 international, was signed by Manchester United last summer, beating out competition from Chelsea. With Luke Shaw still enjoying his post-European Championship break and Tyrell Malacia sidelined due to injury, Amass has a chance to impress.

The fifth player is Jake Fletcher, son of former Manchester United star Darren Fletcher. He joined Manchester United from Manchester City for a transfer fee of £1.3 million last year. According to The Mirror, ten Hag rates this 17-year-old midfielder highly and has already given him minutes in pre-season friendlies against Rosenborg and Rangers, being pleased with his performances.

In summary, ten Hag hopes that these young players can fill gaps in the squad for the upcoming season and also provide motivation for existing players to step up their efforts.