Man Utd set to unleash five debutants for FA Cup clash with Fulham

A glance at Manchester United’s bench in recent weeks might leave some fans struggling to recognize a few names.

With injuries piling up and January departures thinning the squad, Ruben Amorim has turned to United’s youth ranks to bolster his options.

Despite enduring a disappointing Premier League campaign, United remain in the hunt for silverware in both the Europa League and FA Cup.

Their upcoming FA Cup clash against Fulham on Sunday could once again see several academy talents involved.

Given that the club’s Under-18s secured a place in the FA Youth Cup semi-finals on Friday—with several standout performances—there is a growing sense of excitement about the talent emerging from the academy.

United have already handed a senior debut to highly-rated forward Chido Obi, who featured off the bench against Tottenham before getting a 20-minute runout at Everton last month.

The prolific ex-Arsenal striker has been in electric form at the academy level and was kept with the first team rather than featuring in the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals against his former club. His continued presence in Amorim’s plans suggests he could see more first-team action against Fulham.

Another former Arsenal talent, Ayden Heaven, has also been named in recent matchday squads. The 18-year-old defender arrived in January and has been training with Amorim’s squad ever since.

A left-footed center-back with prior senior experience, Heaven could be in line for his first-team debut before the season ends—especially with Lisandro Martínez out for the remainder of the campaign, Luke Shaw struggling with injuries, and Jonny Evans nearing the end of his contract.

One of the standout performers in United’s 3-2 FA Youth Cup win over Arsenal was Bendito Mantato, whose match-winning display further boosted his growing reputation.

The 17-year-old winger, who has drawn comparisons to Bukayo Saka, has been making waves for the Under-18s and Under-21s. His ability to play as a wing-back could put him in contention for a first-team call-up, especially given Amorim’s tactical flexibility.

Another academy standout is Gabriele Biancheri, a prolific striker signed from Cardiff City. The Welsh forward has been in scintillating form, boasting 16 goals in 22 games across all competitions at youth level—outscoring Obi this season.

If his development continues at this pace, a senior squad opportunity could arrive sooner rather than later. Midfielder Jack Fletcher also caught the eye in the Youth Cup victory, scoring United’s opener in an all-action performance.

The son of former United star Darren Fletcher, Jack and his twin brother Tyler joined from Manchester City in 2023 and have impressed within the academy setup. Jack has already trained with the first team and could be one to watch in the coming months.

With United’s injury woes continuing, Amorim has little choice but to turn to youth—offering these talented youngsters an invaluable opportunity. Sunday’s FA Cup tie against Fulham could see another academy breakthrough, continuing United’s long-standing tradition of promoting homegrown talent.