Newly appointed Manchester United manager, Ruben Amorim, wasted no time in making his mark during his first training session on Monday. With several of his first-team players away on international duty, Amorim seized the opportunity to assess some of the club's promising young talents.
One such talent is 16-year-old Godwill Kukonki. The towering 6ft 5in defender was given a chance to impress the new boss and joined the first-team group for training. According to reports from Manchester Evening News, this marked Kukonki's debut in a first-team training session.
Despite being a regular starter at centre-back for the Under-18s team, this was an exciting step up for Kukonki who has been tipped as one to watch in future. His impressive height and left-footed defensive skills have already made him stand out among his peers.
Midfielder Mainoo returns
Amorim would also have been pleased by the sight of midfielder Kobbie Mainoo returning to train with the group. Mainoo had been sidelined since October 8 due to a muscle injury sustained against Aston Villa.
Initial predictions suggested that Mainoo would be out for "a few weeks". Now over five weeks later, according to reports, he has finally returned to training. It remains uncertain whether he will prove his fitness before Amorim’s inaugural game in charge this coming Sunday away at Ipswich.
Big task for Ruben Amorim
Mainoo is expected to play a significant role under Amorim who is known for relying heavily on academy graduates during his trophy-laden tenure with Sporting Lisbon. As such, it comes as no surprise that United are reportedly set on accelerating contract negotiations with Mainoo who still has two and half years left on his current terms.
Amorim's first training session at Manchester United has given fans a glimpse into the future of the club. The inclusion of young talents like Kukonki and Mainoo in first-team training is a clear indication of Amorim's strategy to nurture homegrown talent, which could potentially lead to a bright future for Manchester United.
