Trondheim: Manchester United youngsters impress in Rosenborg victory
Youth players shine in pre-season win
Manchester United secured a 5-0 victory over Rosenborg in a pre-season friendly held in Trondheim, Norway. The match saw four academy prospects contribute goals, with manager Michael Carrick commending their performances. This result marked a recovery for United after their previous loss to Wrexham.
The goal scorers from the academy included Shea Lacey, Jacob Devaney, Harry Amass, and Ethan Williams. Additionally, Joshua Zirkzee added a solo goal to complete the scoring. Carrick expressed his satisfaction with the young players, stating they were “fantastic” and “deserved what they got.”
Shea Lacey’s goal was particularly notable, as he found space and curled a shot into the far corner. He primarily operated in a hybrid number 10 role during the match. Jacob Devaney, who played in central defence despite his preferred midfield position, also scored with an instinctive first-time finish from a corner. Devaney had previously received praise from Carrick following the Wrexham defeat.
Harry Amass, who had a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday and later joined Norwich before an injury, appeared fully fit. He scored United’s fourth goal by sliding in at the far post. All three players—Lacey, Devaney, and Amass—are 19 years old and are making a strong case for their inclusion in the squad.
Goalkeeper and squad depth
Goalkeeper Radek Vitek, 22, also received praise from Carrick after playing 71 minutes and keeping a clean sheet. Vitek, a Czech shot-stopper, has not yet made a competitive appearance for United, having spent the last three seasons on loan at Accrington Stanley, Blau-Weiss Linz, and Bristol City. He was deputising for Senne Lammens, who was involved in the World Cup with Belgium.
The team’s defensive performance was also highlighted by Carrick, who noted that they defended well as a unit and protected the goalkeepers effectively. He described clean sheets as a “beautiful thing.”
Among the unused substitutes was 15-year-old JJ Gabriel, who was named the Premier League U18 Player of the Season last year. His presence on the bench indicates the club’s continued focus on youth development.
Pre-season preparations and upcoming fixtures
Manchester United began their pre-season schedule earlier than some of their rivals. While the result against Rosenborg, who are currently 10th in the Eliteserien, should be viewed in context, Carrick’s starting line-up included several first-team players. These included new signing Andrey Santos, along with regular starters Bryan Mbeumo, Patrick Dorgu, Luke Shaw, and Mason Mount.
The club is preparing for a busy schedule, with upcoming fixtures against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm, followed by matches against Paris Saint-Germain, Leeds, and AC Milan. Their Premier League campaign is set to commence on Saturday, August 22, against newly-promoted Hull City. Subsequent league matches include clashes with Ipswich, Everton, Manchester City, and Fulham before the international break.
Carrick took over as interim manager in January, replacing Ruben Amorim, and was later appointed permanently after guiding the team to a third-placed finish in the Premier League. He has already invested over £80 million this summer in players such as Santos and Youri Tielemans to strengthen the squad for competition on multiple fronts.
Source: tntsports.co.uk
As NewsUK's Senior Football Correspondent, Thomas Beckwith reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He reported on three World Cups for a national news agency. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Thomas lives in Sheffield, where he watches lower-league football most weekends. “Football writing is about the decisions, not just the result.”
