The opening weekend of the Premier League also marks the opening weekend of the Premier League 2, and Manchester United’s Under 21’s faced Arsenal Under 21’s in the early kick-off on Saturday at 12:30.
In 2016, the Premier League confirmed that youth level football would change to under 23’s.
However, this summer, the authorities communicated that they would be reverting back to under 21’s for the 2022/23 season.
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To help aide the development of the Manchester United youngsters, United confirmed the arrival of former Premier League midfielder Tom Huddlestone.
The 35-year-old is set to act as a player-coach, replacing centre-back Paul McShane who announced his retirement in May.
However, on Saturday afternoon once United had confirmed their under-21s side to face Arsenal's youth, there was something which caught people's eyes.
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A number of United fans noticed on social media that winger Alejandro Garnacho, full-back Ethan Laird and midfielders Hannibal Mejbri, Shola Shoretire and Zidane Iqbal weren’t present with the Under 21’s on Saturday.
This could be a hint that the group could all be part of Erik ten Hag’s first Premier League squad, as the Reds host Graham Potter’s Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday at Old Trafford.
18-year-old Garnacho impressed in last Sunday’s friendly at the Theatre of Dreams against Spanish opposition Rayo Vallecano, where Laird, Mejbri, Iqbal and Shoretire all featured too.
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The latter was the only one of the five not to be taken on United’s pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia last month, where United faced arch-rivals Liverpool, Melbourne Victory, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa.
Charlie Savage did go on tour and impressed, but he was captaining the under-21s in their eventual 3-1 defeat.
Boss Erik ten Hag may be forced to give minutes to younger members of his squad in both midfield and the forward line.
On Friday’s press conference ahead of the season opener, regarding his current options, Ten Hag said: “We saw in pre-season, we did pretty well there [in midfield]. I am convinced. We have a good team.
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"We have a squad, but still, as I said, we can still strengthen the squad, but the team shows, we can play at a good level.”
United have been linked with Ajax winger Antony, though it has been reported the club are no longer interested in the Brazilian due to the price tag slapped on him by the Dutch champions, which could pave the way for a breakout season for Argentine Garnacho.
Garnacho made his Premier League debut at the back end of last season under Ralf Rangnick when United drew 1-1 at home to Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea.
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As for 19-year-old’s Mejbri and Iqbal, the pair have both featured for their countries at senior level.
Mejbri opted to play for Tunisia after representing France until under 18 level, with Iqbal deciding to represent Iraq, though he was also eligible to play for Pakistan and England.
Topics: Manchester United, Premier League, Brighton And Hove Albion, Erik Ten Hag, Zidane Iqbal, Alejandro Garnacho, Shola Shoretire
Aadam Haladh