If you’re ever asked what exactly it is that defines Manchester United Football Club, refer them to the video the club put out on their official X page following Wednesday’s 4-2 victory over Sheffield United.
A video paying tribute to the staggering number of academy graduates who rose through the ranks before stepping onto the Old Trafford stage, from Sir Bobby Robson and Duncan Edwards to Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, to Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho.
In the dying seconds of that Bruno Fernandes-inspired triumph over the basement Blades, that number reached a quarter-of-a-century.
Ethan Wheatley, the hero of Manchester United‘s Premier League Cup victory over Man City’s Under-18s just 24 hours earlier, became the 250th player to make his senior bow after honing his considerable talents in arguably European football’s most famous academy.
Ethan Wheatley makes Manchester United debut
Wheatley, who’s two goals against City took his tally to 20 for the campaign at youth level, replaced Rasmus Hojlund for the final ten minutes in midweek as Erik ten Hag’s side overtook Newcastle and into sixth place.
“250 (academy graduates in Man United’s first-team). Incredible!” a delighted Nick Cox writes on X. “Congratulations Ethan. An unrivalled achievement across generations of staff and players.
“A club defined by youth, courage and success.”
Cox, of course, deserves his share of the celebrations. As Manchester United’s academy manager, he has played a massive role in building arguably the most exciting crop of talent at Carrington in generations, Wheatley winning the Under 18 league and cup double alongside such rising stars asJack Fletcher, Louis Jackson and Harry Amass.
The latest of many more debuts
Man United, thanks to the good work of Cox and others, have made massive progress in recent years behind the scenes. Like the rest of the club under Glazer ownership, their academy had gone ignored and under-valued for far too long, slipping behind the likes of neighbours City.
Beating their sky blue rivals to a piece of silverware in midweek, then, felt cathartic to say the least, Wheatley’s first goal in that 2-1 win all the proof Phil Bardsley needed to proclaim the 18-year-old one to watch in the coming seasons.
“The movement and first touch and composure to finish, absolutely sensational. His goalscoring record is phenomenal,” the former Man United right-back, one of that aforementioned 250 club, tells MUTV.
“It was the first time I’ve seen him close up. You want your centre-forward to be big, he looks like he could handle himself.”
“I was delighted to see Wheatley make his debut (for the first-team). Because he is an exceptional player.”
The likes of Jackson and Amass have also been in Ten Hag’s matchday squad of late, while Fletcher and Shea Lacey are also training with the first-team pretty regularly these days.
