Man Utd make key decision on youth players 'to give more first team options'

Manchester United have made a key decision for youth players to give them a better chance of flourishing in the first team.

With United's Under 19s returning to the UEFA Youth League with the club back in the Champions League there will be more to be played.

And so the club has decided to withdraw from the EFL Trophy and the National League Cup for this season.

The club believes this will also offer more first-team training opportunities and focus on individual development.

And they only entered the National League Cup for the first time last season as they were not in Europe and there are fixtures against National League first-team squads.

But the EFL Trophy has been seen as a good developmental competition for young players, offering them matches against first-team squads in the Football League.

United's youngsters beat Notts County last season but suffered defeats to Barnsley and Lincoln City in the group phase.

United have entered the competition every season since 2019/20, emerging from the group on three occasions and making the last-16 in 2022/23, which remains their best result.

The decision to withdraw from the EFL Trophy but play in the Premier League International Cup was based on the greater variety on offer.

It means they will face academy sides from other countries with different styles of football.

The decision to cut down on the games programme this season comes as United expect to carry a smaller group in their Under-21s this season.

While they will continue to recruit the best young players, sources say they will be selective about who is brought into the club.

The focus will also turn to individual development, allowing for more time on the training ground and more opportunities for the best youngsters to step up to first-team training, rather than remaining with the Under-21s during a demanding games programme.

Old Trafford sources said United remain supportive of both competitions they have pulled out of and that their young players benefited from both.