Angel Gomes, James Garner, Mason Greenwood and Tahith Chong.

How United's youngsters benefitted from Dubai

Saturday 12 January 2019 05:00

Scott McTominay has revealed how he helped Manchester United's four Academy players settle into the squad in Dubai, which he has described as an invaluable experience for them.

Tahith Chong, James Garner, Angel Gomes and Mason Greenwood travelled with the first team for our warm-weather training camp this week.

McTominay knows the challenge of making the transition from the Academy into the first team and did his bit to make the quartet feel at home on the trip.

The Scotland international has praised their attitude throughout the squad's stay in the Middle East.

“It’s invaluable for them to come away with the first team and get some really good training in,” Scott told us. “Just being around the group, going for a team meal and walking down the beach with all of the lads – it’s good for them to be a part of the group. They’ll feel really settled in and they’ve done really well in training as well.

“Even I had it easy with the lads who helped me integrate into the first team – the likes of Luke Shaw, Phil Jones, Marcus [Rashford] and Jesse [Lingard]. Players like them helped me so much and obviously I want to help the younger boys come up, feel really part of the group and comfortable in the surroundings too.”

McTominay was part of a youthful team that triumphed during a training session in Dubai.

Scott also believes having Michael Carrick, who retired as a player at the end of last season, and Kieran McKenna, who used to coach the Under-18s, on the coaching staff has aided the youngsters’ integration into the senior set-up.

“Of course – Kieran is a top, top coach and obviously Michael is going to help every single player settle in because he’s been there and done it before,” the midfielder said. “He knows the pathway for these young players – that’s why it’s so important for them to come up and get some really important training time with us.”

Chong made his first-team debut in last weekend’s Emirates FA Cup win over Reading, while Gomes has made two senior appearances.

Garner and Greenwood are both yet to make their debuts but have been involved in matchday squads – most notably when they were both unused substitutes against Valencia in the Champions League last month.

Scott, who made his first-team debut against Arsenal in May 2017, is happy to see the club’s tradition of giving youth players a pathway to the first team continuing.

Scott speaking to MUTV's Mark Sullivan in Dubai.

“Yes, of course – you saw that with Chongy [against Reading] and Angel in the recent game [against Huddersfield],” McTominay added. “It’s so important. That’s what the club is built around – bringing young players through. I’m sure there will be many more to see.”

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