Fletcher Emphasizes Development of Young Talent Ahead of FA Cup Clash

In his first match in charge, Fletcher witnessed a disappointing 2-2 draw against Burnley but was nearly treated to a thrilling victory thanks to academy graduate Shea Lacey. The Liverpool-born winger, who made his United debut under Amorim against Aston Villa last month, had a standout moment as he struck the crossbar from outside the area and later fired another shot that narrowly missed in stoppage time.

Amorim also granted debuts to Fletcher’s son Jack and Bendito Mantato, while fielding players such as Harry Amass, Tyler Fredricson, and Chido Obi last season. However, he utilized academy players sparingly, often only during injury crises or significant squad rotations leading up to Europa League knockout matches. His controversial remarks about young players, including Amass and Obi, further fueled discontent among the United fanbase. Following the players’ social media defenses of their performances, Amorim remarked that young players at the club felt “entitled.”

Fletcher, a former academy graduate himself and father to first-team player Tyler, expressed pride in the club’s tradition of developing young talent. During a press conference, he stated: “What I see are many hardworking, humble young players. They are not perfect—they’re young and still learning—but we sometimes expect too much of them. This is not a criticism; it’s simply my belief.

“It’s crucial for us to allow these players to learn, educate them, and help them understand that mistakes are part of their development. Our role, alongside coaches, family members, and senior players, is to guide them in becoming successful Manchester United players and individuals. My interactions with the academy players reveal that they are hardworking, honest, coachable, and full of talent. I hope they get the chance to showcase their abilities as Shea did against Burnley.”

Despite rarely utilizing players from United’s under-18 and under-21 sides, Amorim has overlooked some prominent academy graduates in recent years. Talents like Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho have departed the club, while Kobbie Mainoo has yet to start in any Premier League matches this season. Mainoo returned to action against Burnley after a four-game injury absence, and Fletcher noted that he is in good spirits, saying, “Kobbie is naturally reserved, so it’s hard to gauge his emotions, but I know him well. He’s comfortable in this environment and has trained well.”

Looking ahead, United will face Brighton in the FA Cup third round on Sunday at Old Trafford. Having secured the trophy 13 times, most recently in 2024, Fletcher highlighted the significance of the competition: “It’s vital for Manchester United to win trophies. We’ve seen success in recent years, winning it a couple of years ago and reaching the final last season. The FA Cup is special; it’s the first trophy I won as a player, and it’s a title we should be competing for again.”

Fletcher anticipates fielding the same squad as in the Burnley match, confirming that Noussair Mazraoui and Bryan Mbeumo will not be available, even though one will be departing the Africa Cup of Nations as Cameroon faces Morocco in the quarter-finals later Friday. He added that Harry Maguire might play following his role as an unused substitute against Burnley, but emphasized the need to manage his minutes carefully given his absence since the 2-2 draw with Tottenham on November 8.