Marcus Rashford has been singing praises for the Manchester United youth players which are part of Erik ten Hag's pre-season squad so far.
The 24-year-old is certainly one to know about being a talented academy graduate.
He burst onto the scene under Louis van Gaal, and recognises that there is some great talent at Carrington now.
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Ten Hag has introduced many of the talent into his first weeks of pre-season training as the team prepare for their tour next week.
This is great for the United youngsters to get to know the new manager and try and impress.
Alejandro Garnacho cut his holiday short in order to get back and show the Dutchman what he can do.
United's no.10 believes that the experience that these players will get throughout pre-season is invaluable to their development.
“I think it is massive,” Rashford told the club website. “I was gutted when I was 17 and I missed out on the tour because I had a back injury.
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“Honestly, when you know that you are being involved in the first team and you have got a chance to go on the tour, it's a massive opportunity.
“It's a period to be around the first team every day, training with us every day, play games with us and get minutes under your belt.”
It can be a time where these young players grow, and stands them in good stead for when they properly push into the first-team.
Rashford explains how being able to compete with first-team players at that age helps, and how it personally impacted the early stages of his United journey.
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“It can really trigger something for you in your career.
"For me, it was mentally the steps that I took forward when I first starting training and playing with the first team.
“It was huge. It is something that you can't take for granted.”
Unsurprisingly, the likes of Hannibal Mejbri, Shola Shoretire and Garnacho are hot names amongst the United fanbase.
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These youngsters are exciting prospects and could become future first-team regulars at the club.
Rashford backs these youngsters to make the steps required to challenge for places at Old Trafford, the steps that he made some years ago.
"Hopefully some of them get the opportunity to come with us and play some minutes,” he says. “I wouldn't be surprised if some of them started the season with us as well because they have all started training well.
“They have all come back in good condition, so there are only positive things I can say really. Everyone is giving 100 per cent, which is the main thing at this stage of the season, and it is probably going to take another week and a half until we are all really fit and raring to go.
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“In these periods when it is tough, when you are doing your first sets of runs, all of the lads have been doing that and I think the young lads have done well. The first team lads have set a good example, so hopefully they get an opportunity to come on the tour and play some games.”
Featured Image Credit: Manchester UnitedTopics: Alejandro Garnacho, Amad Diallo, Erik Ten Hag, Football, Manchester United, Marcus Rashford, Premier League
