Manchester United turned to their youth ranks once again this week, calling up 17-year-old academy defender Daniel Armer to first-team training at Carrington on Wednesday.
It was Ruben Amorim putting the final touches on preparations ahead of the Sunderland clash, but the teenager got the kind of experience every young Red dreams of: stepping in with the seniors. United have long made a habit of drafting in academy players when numbers are thin, and Armer was the latest to benefit though it came at the cost of him missing the Under-21s’ fixture against Lincoln.
Interestingly, his call-up follows closely on the heels of another defensive prospect. Just last week, Jayden Ngwashi, only 16, was also bumped up to train with the senior squad. Unlike many academy hopefuls, Ngwashi already has a résumé that makes you raise an eyebrow: debut with the U18s in March, promotion to the U21s not long after, and youth caps for both Italy and England. Most recently, he turned out for England’s U17s back in February. It’s not hard to see why United rate him so highly.
Amad returns, Malacia’s situation finally clears
Alongside the academy inclusions, Wednesday also marked the return of two senior names: Amad and Tyrell Malacia.
For Amad, the absence was deeply personal — he missed the Brentford trip due to a family bereavement, with the club rallying around to offer its support. His comeback to training will be a welcome sight for Amorim, who values the winger’s creativity.
Malacia’s story, however, has been anything but straightforward. The left-back has reappeared with the first team after a spell training with the U21s, a move that reflected the uncertainty surrounding his future. He wanted out during the summer — and pushed for it — but concrete interest never really materialised. A late move to Elche even collapsed on deadline day, leaving him in limbo. Yet, despite that messy backdrop, he was still listed in United’s Premier League squad.
Amorim has now clarified the process: Malacia was deliberately reintegrated by working with the U21s before rejoining the main group. Club sources are adamant this was always the intended pathway back though you can’t help but wonder if it also doubled as a quiet reset after the summer saga.
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