Academy Weekly: Old Trafford experience

Scunthorpe's travelling support added to the buzz created by the United fans in attendance at Old Trafford, giving the players on both sets of teams an unforgettable experience.

Under-18s manager Travis Binnion was pleased with his side's performance in their 4-2 win, of which there are more details below.

"I thought we played with a good energy, I thought we approached the game in the right way," Binnion began.

"We were good on the ball. We played with a really good style and that's important but our attitude was good and we were at it, and that's what we expect but it's a big evening for the lads.

"Scunthorpe worked hard. You expect every team to work hard and ask questions of you; that's what happened. They got themselves back in the game at 2-0 and at 4-1 - they didn't go away, they kept going. Credit to them for that. It should be a given really and we expect that of our players, and it was pleasing that we played the right way for the duration.

"It gives the players a taste of what they're striving for. It's a first step of what they want to do regularly. To put them up under that pressure with a bit of expectation is really what we need for their development and what they need to deal with."

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

FA Youth Cup

Manchester United will take on Reading, away from home, in the Fourth Round of the FA Youth Cup after a 4-2 win over Scunthorpe United at Old Trafford. Goals from Sam Mather and Alejandro Garnacho gave United a first-half lead. The first saw Garnacho snatch a loose ball in the box, take it past the goalkeeper and set Mather up with a left-footed cross. The 17-year-old winger duly finished first-time into an empty net. Garnacho's goal was a little more out-of-the-ordinary. Isak Hansen's clipped ball was directed on by Charlie McNeill and Garnacho controlled well before hitting the back of the net with a venemous bicycle kick.

Harry Lewis grabbed one back for the visitors before the break, after which United's advantage was extended once again. Maxi Oyedele won the ball high up the pitch and managed to maintain balance just long enough to send a skidding right-footed drive into the bottom left corner. Charlie McNeill took the tally to four to wrap the game up. Kobbie Mainoo's pass forward was a good one, McNeill miscontrolled, Mather picked it up and, taking the goalkeeper out of the game, gave it back to United's No.9 who finished into a now empty net. Scunthorpe's second came from a well-worked free-kick, but it's United who progress into the Fourth Round.

Landmark moment for young Reds

Charlie Savage and Zidane Iqbal made their Manchester United debuts in last Wednesday's UEFA Champions League match against BSC Young Boys. Both players came on as late substitutes and showed why the chance is one they deserved. Congratulations, boys!

There were also appearances for Teden Mengi, Shola Shoretire and Anthony Elanga, all of whom have regularly trained with the first team. In total, 11 players from the Academy were in the 18-player matchday squad.

UEFA Youth League

Goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Charlie McNeill gave United a 2-1 home victory over BSC Young Boys as the Reds wrapped up the UEFA Youth League group stages with a fifth win from six games. The result means Neil Wood's team go straight through to the Round of 16, although we will not find out our opponents until February. Teams who finished as runners-up in the group stages go to a series of play-off matches against the teams who have qualified through the competition's other path, the 'Domestic Champions Path'. See our full article here for more details.

Loan watch

James Garner played the full game for Nottingham Forest in a 4-1 win against Swansea City, for whom Ethan Laird was in action at right-wing-back until he suffered an injury late in the first-half. Di'Shon Bernard's Hull City drew 2-2 with Bristol City, the 21-year-old playing at right-centre-back in a three-man defence. Ethan Galbraith played the full game for Doncaster Rovers as they beat Shrewsbury Town by one goal to nil.

Brandon Williams couldn't play for Norwich City this week as the Canaries were up against United, and loan players cannot play against their parent clubs. Nevertheless, we caught up with Brandon to see how he's enjoying life in East Anglia.

Rangnick's Academy pledge

New interim manager Ralf Rangnick showed his commitment to the Academy with the inclusion of 11 graduates in last Wednesday's match against BSC Young Boys, and pledged to watch as many Under-23s matches as he can going forward.

He also explained earlier this week why the Academy is such an important part of the club.

"The Academies are highly important, even more so in England," Rangnick said.

"If you look at the number of players who have developed in the last 10 years, England is probably in the top two or three in Europe for developing young, top talented players.

"We have three of them [English talents] in our own first team – with Jadon, with Mason and with Marcus. We need to make sure, in the future, every year or every other year, one or two, if not three, of those players are being good enough to perform and to play on our level.”