Manchester United academy and first team don kick off pre-season with friendly matches for next two days. Michael Carrick go lead trip to Finland to face Wrexham this weekend.
New signing Cristian Orozco don complete im transfer on Monday when im celebrate im 18th birthday. The Colombian midfielder don start life at club by joining academy group, so im fit make im debut tomorrow afternoon.
PDP group, wey include Under-17 to Under-21 players, go play two friendlies for Germany against TSV 1860 Munich and FC Nurnberg. Both matches go happen at Adi-Dassler Stadium tomorrow, so Orozco fit wear red shirt for first time.
United go dey patient with the youngster and give am time to settle. Dem go give am English lessons to help am blend. Orozco already sabi im academy mates because im don spend time at Carrington for December, but the trip go help am bond with group. Im arrive for Manchester over one week ago.
JJ Gabriel, wey be another talented youngster, don feature plenty for Academy Notebook for past two months. Interest dey for Gabriel because of im supreme talent, but talent no mean nothing without hard work. The teenager maintain sharpness before pre-season with individual coaching sessions abroad, and those one-to-one sessions continue now wey im back for England. Although Gabriel report for pre-season at Carrington, im still dey do extras with individual coach Jack Hunter, who also work with Aston Villa defender Ian Maatsen.
United go begin pre-season with friendly against Wrexham for Helsinki on Saturday afternoon. Last summer, 29 players make trip to Stockholm for opening friendly against Leeds. The travelling squad go be slightly smaller this summer, but still large. E go interesting to see which young players go make the trip this weekend. Shea Lacey, Harry Amass, Tyler Fredricson and Jack Fletcher take part for first senior training session back at Carrington, so dem be shoo-ins. Toby Collyer dey further ahead for development, but im still be academy graduate. Collyer go get chance to show Carrick wetin im fit do after frustrating loan spell with Hull City. Im encounter bad luck with injuries at Hull – a goalkeeper fall on im ankle for training – and im recently visit medical expert for Spain to get health MOT before important campaign. E go worth to keep eye on how Collyer go perform. United fans go dey excited to see Lacey, Amass and Fletcher for action as well.
Manchester Evening News report say United academy coach Tom Curtis don join Everton. The move don rubber-stamped, with Curtis complete switch to Merseyside to link up with former United academy boss Nick Cox. Curtis act as U21 caretaker when coaching reshuffle be required during Darren Fletcher two games for charge of first team for January. Im manage four U21 matches before Adam Lawrence be appointed interim for remainder of season. Curtis don join Everton to coach dia U21s alongside former United academy coach Dave Hughes. Cox get strong relationship with both coaches and don rekindle connections at Everton.
United dey set to make three academy hires for coming weeks. The club dey currently look to appoint new academy coach, individual development coach and lead phase coach. The Reds don advertise the roles to support continued development of next generation of players and to help create environment where young talent fit thrive both on and off pitch. The lead phase coach go dey tasked with delivering high-quality player development programme wey go identify, recruit, develop and retain high-potential players. The individual development coach go dey responsible for designing and delivering position-specific and individualised development programmes to maximise potential of academy players. E look like United don advertise those two roles to take on previous responsibilities of Travis Binnion, who now be important part of Carrick coaching staff after stepping up to first team for January. Binnion no be just U21 manager, im official title na head of player development and coaching. United need to get appointments right because Binnion be key cog for academy system. Im continue to attend practically all academy matches for second half of season, but that go be impossible next season because United dey back for Champions League.
