Academy Briefing: Amass makes debut

Here’s everything you need to know in our regular Briefing…

GRADUATE 253: HARRY AMASS

Congratulations to Harry Amass, who celebrated his 18th birthday on Sunday with a competitive debut for United. In doing so, he became the club’s 253rd Academy graduate, making a first professional appearance as a 69th-minute substitute for Alejandro Garnacho, graduate no.244.

Harry joined United in 2023 from Watford and enjoyed a stellar first season at the club, helping the Under-18s to a three-trophy campaign. His performances then earned him semi-regular inclusion in the senior matchday squad, including back in April 2024, but he has to be patient and continue working on his game while this special moment finally arrived.

“It’s an incredible experience,” Harry said after the final whistle. “I’m just proud at the moment and I think my family will be proud of me, everyone watching at home. I’m just grateful for the opportunity and hopefully there’s many more to come.

“It all just fell on the right day, with the 18th birthday, so it’s not a bad one, is it?

“When I found out I was very excited. I was warming up down there and got the nod and that’s when it was real.”

FA YOUTH CUP SEMI-FINAL

After a dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, United’s U18s will travel to Aston Villa in the FA Youth Cup semi-final. The Villans triumphed 3-0 over Plymouth Argyle in last Friday’s quarter-final.

Fixture details, including date and broadcast information, will be communicated as soon as possible.

BINNION: THIS IS NORMAL AT UNITED

Reflecting on a busy few weeks for United’s more senior Academy players — with several key cup fixtures, continued progress in the league and first-team experience — Travis Binnion called it the “standard.”

“That’s pretty normal,” said Binnion, who is United’s Head of Player Development and Coaching, as well as lead U21s coach.

“You get to this stage of the season and there’s a hell of a lot going on, and that’s a good thing, because that means the players are getting plenty of opportunities to get what they need.

“A lot of lads are with the first-team on a daily basis, and in the squads as well. That’s pretty normal at this football club and we just want to keep moving forwards and keep giving the lads the opportunities they need. They’ve got to work really hard to take and grasp what they’re given.

“You can never complain at this football club for opportunities ahead of your age group and in the first team, so they have to take what they can get.”

For a better idea of how the pathway at United works and how weeks like these are managed, watch our Lifeblood: Climbing the Mountain film.

U21s DEFEAT WEST BROM

Binnion’s U21s were 5-1 winners over West Brom on Friday night. Gabriele Biancheri, James Scanlon, Bendito Mantato and Jack Fletcher (2) scored the goals, all in an excellent first half.

“We’ve not scored in the last three games so it’s pleasing tonight to score five in one half,” Binnion reviewed.

“It’s always going to be difficult to replicate the first half in the second half, but we earned that right. I’d have liked us to create more chances in the second half and not let them score. 

“The goals were really nice tonight. It was incisive. Some really good individual goals, some great team goals.

“We were a very young side tonight and you wouldn’t have thought that with the dominance of the game and some of the maturity on the ball.”

COMING UP

Many of our young players will now represent their nations during the international break. This is not only always a matter of great pride to our players, their families and the club, but a valuable learning experience. The boys will leave the Carrington environment where they spend most of the season, train and play with different team-mates, under different coaches and adapt their games accordingly. As they look to carve out long careers in the professional game, these are key skills to pick up. We wish them all good luck for their upcoming fixtures.

Our U18s and U21s will not be in competitive action during this time. The U18s are next scheduled to play on Saturday 29 March against Sunderland and the U21s two days later at Leeds United. However, with the FA Youth Cup semi-final to be played in these next few weeks, we’ll keep you updated on any changes to those fixtures.