Academy Briefing: Industry-leading parents conference

Here’s everything you need to know about our world-famous youth set-up from the last seven days, and what’s coming up…

HELPING PARENTS HELP THEIR SONS

Academy parents were welcomed to Carrington on Saturday to get a full behind-the-scenes look at our programme, the new facilities at the training ground and participate in workshops to help them better support their sons’ journeys.

After listening to the expertise of two former Academy parents delivered by No.1 Fan Club, the parents were taken out onto the grass to watch a live mic’d-up training session, offering them real-time insight into our coaching approach and communication style.

A nutrition session followed, with our club chefs providing tasting options of healthy snacks and recipe handouts for parents to take away, plus information about the nutritional needs of young athletes.

This is the latest in a line of parental workshops held at United, and another innovation as the Academy seeks to push onwards, following recent creations like the Pro Experience Programme, player-coach role, increased bio-banding experiences and the annual Celebration Event.

Well done to all staff involved and thanks to the parents for their focus and dedication to their sons’ progress.

ENGLAND EXPERIENCE FOR YOUNGSTERS

Young United trio Elyh Harrison (currently on loan at Shrewsbury Town), Ethan Wheatley and Shea Lacey enjoyed a fantastic experience over the break, as they were called up from the England Under-20s squad to train with the senior Three Lions set-up.

Lacey then started, alongside Ayden Heaven, in the U20s’ 1-0 defeat to Switzerland, with striker Wheatley coming off the bench. Wheatley is currently on loan at Northampton Town, and was back on the substitutes' bench for the Cobblers only a day later, coming on after 21 minutes due to an injury in their League One fixture against Rotherham United.

"It's been a busy week,” he told BBC Radio Northampton after the game. “I had one day with the seniors, helping them prepare for the Wales game. I got a good 34 minutes yesterday [Friday] and then on to today.

“[Training with England’s seniors is] definitely the top level of the game, to be honest, all the players that you look up to and want to be like in the future. It was good to get my face in and around there and, hopefully in the future, I can kick on and, hopefully, be around it more."

Fellow forward Gabriele Biancheri found the net for Wales’ Under-21s side against Austria, while Enzo Kana-Biyik — on loan at Lausanne Sport — netted a hat-trick on his France Under-19s debut, in a victory over Switzerland.

Many others were involved, including Jack Fletcher and Harry Amass for England Under-19s, and we congratulate them all on representing their nations.

COMING UP

Our Under-18s and Under-21s sides return to action in the coming days, with exciting fixtures in both the EFL Trophy and National League Cup on the horizon for Travis Binnion’s team.

Tickets are available for Barnsley here, and Rochdale here, and the young Reds always greatly appreciate your fantastic support on the road.

Tickets are also available for the U21s' home game against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday 25 October, in a midday kick-off on the same afternoon as our first-team fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion (17:30 BST). Get yours here.

MUTV INFO AT A GLANCE

Saturday 18 October | Nottingham Forest v UNITED U18s | 12:30 | Not live on MUTV
Tuesday 21 October | Barnsley v UNITED U21s | 19:00 | Live on Sky Sports+
Saturday 25 October | UNITED U21s v Tottenham Hotspur | 12:00 | Live on MUTV
Saturday 25 October | UNITED U18s v Sunderland | 12:30 | Not live on MUTV, clash with U21s fixture
Tuesday 28 October | Rochdale v UNITED U21s | 19:00 | Live on MUTV