Manchester United Coach Solskjaer To Monitor Nigerian Duo, Other Academy Stars In New Season

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed that he will be keeping tabs on the outstanding  players in the club's academy during the 2020-2021 season with a view to handing them first-team minutes.

Deji Sotona recently departed Manchester United because the club were not willing to pay him the wages he demanded and also wanted first team football.

Olamide Ibrahim would have been a first-year scholar at the Old Trafford outfit this season but he opted to join Derby County in the off season and has already made his unofficial debut for the Rams first team.

Two other players of Nigerian descent the Red Devils have high hopes for are Shola Shoretire and Dillon Hoogewerf, with the two strikers making their competitive debuts for the U23 team at the age of sixteen.

Manchester United are competing on four fronts this season - Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup - and Solksjaer is hoping more youth team stars catch his eye after handing minutes to Teden Mengi, Ethan Galbraith and Anthony Elanga in the recent friendly vs Aston Villa.

"That should always be part of being a Manchester United Academy player, knowing the pathway is there," Solskjaer said to United's official website.

"We, as coaching staff and as a club, will always give good, young players a chance if they go through the ranks, when you're getting ready to get the chance to have a feel of the first team as well."

"Hopefully, some really improve over the course of the season and get in and around the first team."

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : manutd.com