18-year-old Man Utd wonderkid handed first-team training call-up amid injury crisis

Erik ten Hag had just drafted another young talent into first-team training amid a Manchester United injury crisis.

This season one of the only positives to take has been the development of youth at Carrington.

The academy has been on fire, with Kobbie Mainoo emerging and becoming the first name on the team sheet.

Meanwhile, the likes of Omari Forson and Willy Kambwala have been handed starts for Manchester United.

Along with this, we regularly see some of the standout performers from the talented U18 side drafted into first-team training which can only be a positive.

Earlier this week, Shea Lacey was called into first-team training with the 16-year-old hotly tipped to be fast-tracked into the spotlight.

Now another has joined him as Erik ten Hag contends with an injury crisis.

Photo by Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images

Jack Kingdon handed Manchester United senior training call-up

According to Steven Railston with Manchester Evening News, 18-year-old talented defender Jack Kingdon has been in first-team training.

The Scotland U19 whizkid has been promoted ahead of Saturday’s trip to the Vitality to take on Bournemouth.

This comes amid a real severe injury crisis which has seen Kambwala go from sixth-choice centre-half to a starter alongside Harry Maguire.

The list of every senior centre-half, barring Maguire being injured seems to have afforded Kingdon a chance as he’s been promoted to senior training.

He could even find himself now named in the matchday squad with Ten Hag having few other options and his growing trust in youth will be encouraging for Kingdon.

Could Jack Kingdon become the 250th academy graduate?

Since Forson’s Premier League debut, we have been waiting to see who the 250th graduate would be from the fabled United academy.

Now, with so many injuries, there seems a good chance that it’ll be Kingdon should he be chosen on the bench over the next few weeks.

He looks well placed to be that history-making graduate, although there are others who’ll be keen on achieving it too, including Harry Amass who was on the bench vs Liverpool.

No matter who does it, it’s just a testament to how incredible the academy is right now.