You would be forgiven for thinking that Ravel Morrison and Paul Pogba were first team and well established Manchester United players, the amount their names have been in transfer gossip columns and mentioned online and on radio shows. While rather sadly Ravel Morrison had to be let go, and was sold to West Ham; I say sadly because it is a shame the immense talent the kid has will not be displayed at Old Trafford.

Remember this was the young man who was described by Henry Winter as England’s best youth player, superior to players such as Jack Rodwell and Jack Wilshere. The situation seems to be coming to end as to regards to Pogba, with the young Frenchman looking increasingly likely to have a huge career ahead of him at Old Trafford. With all the hype surrounding these two, it is easy to forget the vast array of young talent Manchester United has. Of course this is a club known for blooding and grooming young players to come through so here are just a few names football fans may be hearing about in the future.

Ryan Tunicliffe:
Arguably the player United fans have been most excited about besides Morrison and Pogba is the 19 year old box to box midfielder, Ryan Tunicliffe. Currently progressing well on loan at Peterborough, the Manchester born and raised youngster has quite rightly been likened to a certain Roy Keane. Such a comparison can be quite a lazy one and detrimental to a player’s progression, but this is one with merit.

Tunicliffe was one of the youth team’s influential players and was a key performer as the U18s won the FA Youth Cup, and his performances such as the one against Chelsea in the semi final, where he controlled the midfield and cut a commanding figure when United had been reducrwed to 10 men after Paul Pogba’s red card, led to the midfield dynamo being named the Jimmy Murphy Player of the Year, an honour previously won by the likes of Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and a certain mancunian on fire in the first team, Danny Welbeck. A powerful midfield all-rounder, Tunnicliffe can pass, tackle and shoot, and if his progression at Peterborough continues excelling as it at this moment, do not be surprised to see the youngster fighting for a place in the first team in the next few years.

Davide Petrucci:
Italian midfielder Davide Petrucci, is like Tunniclife, an excellent all round midfielder, who is tipped to be a player of the future by the coaches of the United youth team. A player who exudes elegance on the ball as well as having the all round game of Tunicliffe, Petrucci joined Manchester United from Roma where he had impressed greatly scoring 14 times in 19 matches for the Italians’ youth team. He continued his impressive in a Red Devils shirt.

He was part of the Academy side who lifted the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland in August 2008, and scored five goals in 14 appearances. Injuries have hampered Petrucci’s development; which is arguably he hasn’t been considered for first team action. But he sparked an impressive comeback by making Man United Champions League squad this season. With a great and injury free pre season under his belt big things are expected of the Italian this season and if injuries don’t crop up, he too could be fighting for a first team birth in years to come.

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