Opinion | Manchester United youngsters Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams leading the way for new class, says academy boss Nicky Butt
- Premier League club played youngest side this season away to Astana in Europa League
- Class of ’92 midfielder warns Angel Gomes he has to reach level of ‘David Silva or as good as Iniesta was at Barcelona’
Manchester United fielded their youngest ever side against Astana last week and former player Nicky Butt, who played 387 games for the club before going on to Newcastle United, Birmingham City and South China in Hong Kong, travelled with them as the head of first-team development.
United are struggling in the English Premier League, but they have one of their best group of youngsters coming through after its youth system lost its way. These prospective first teamers don’t offer an overnight solution but have the potential to be big names – though maybe not as big as Butt’s own Class of 92 teammates.
Butt, 44, has worked closely with the youngsters who’ve been getting chances in the first team and I asked him what he thought about some of those prospects. He talks highly of Brandon Williams, Ethan Laird, Di’Shon Bernard, Dylan Levitt, Jimmy Garner, Angel Gomes and Mason Greenwood.
The 19-year-old Williams, according to Butt, has the potential to be United’s next superstar.
“He’s all energy and high tempo,” said Butt. “A local lad, a heart on his sleeve type of character. As he came through the ranks he wasn’t one considered to be the next superstar, but he has come through because of his character and determination. It will be a long journey for him.