When José Mourinho took over as Manchester United manager, he was keen to dispel any notion that he fails to promote youth. However, the depth of his squad threatens the chances of home-reared talent. Of the 15 players given debuts by predecessor Louis van Gaal, 12 remained at the club when Mourinho arrived on 1 July.
Marcus Rashford has established himself in the first team, scoring the FA Cup final winner and a memorable goal in the Community Shield. James Wilson, who signed a £20,000-a-week contract in February 2015, has only featured twice as a substitute since and is waiting for another loan move after a stint at Celtic.
Andreas Pereira made 11 appearances last season but has not started in any competition. Paddy McNair and Donald Love were sold to Sunderland, while Guillermo Varela joined Eintracht Frankfurt on loan. Joe Riley, a one-game wonder, was released and joined Rotherham United.
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson impressed in 14 appearances last season but faces competition from Luke Shaw and others. Tyler Blackett, now a full-back, competes with multiple players for a spot. Jesse Lingard and Rashford appear to have the best prospects, while Timothy Fosu-Mensah, a 6ft 3in Dutch defender, is a favourite of Mourinho.
Other debutants like Tom Thorpe and Saidy Janko have moved on, with Thorpe joining Rotherham and Janko agreeing a deal with Celtic. The future for many of Van Gaal's youngsters remains uncertain under Mourinho's tenure.
