Alvaro Fernandez is giving Manchester United a call to make – Richard Fay

It has been one other memorable week for Manchester United at youth stage.

On Wednesday evening, academy graduate Anthony Elanga grabbed the headlines with a memorable objective to salvage a draw in opposition to Atletico Madrid within the Champions League. On Thursday evening, the U18s got here from behind to defeat Leicester at Previous Trafford and attain the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup.

And, on Friday evening, the U23s aspect confirmed simply what they’ll do by beating Derby 5-2 at Leigh Sports activities Village to rise to fourth within the Premier League 2.

A lot of the gamers who began the match had been at Previous Trafford for the Youth Cup triumph 24 hours earlier. Certainly one of them, Hannibal had even been in Madrid on Wednesday evening, an unused substitute as shut good friend Elanga took his second within the highlight.

Madrid seems to be the buzzword this week. On Thursday evening, former Atletico starlet Alejandro Garnacho was the headline grabber along with his brace, and on Friday, it was former Actual Madrid hopeful Alvaro Fernandez who stepped as much as the plate with a stellar show of his personal.

Attacking gamers all the time are likely to seize the headlines at youth stage, however it’s the unsung one with essentially the most well-known surname, Charlie Savage, who additionally performed an integral function.

The Welshman was watched on by his father and impressed from the offset with a methodical method within the coronary heart of the midfield, appearing because the conductor to the attacking orchestra in entrance of him.

Time and time once more, he tore aside the Derby protection with expertly weighted passes from deep, completely judging the backspin and trajectory so it landed favorably for his teammates.

An early instance got here simply 5 minutes in when Savage cut up open the protection with a scrumptious diagonal ball. Zidane Iqbal’s effort was not so candy as he ultimately ended the transfer by curling an effort vast of the objective.

United continued to dominate proceedings and, halfway by way of the primary half, they bought their reward when bombarding full-back Fernandez launched into a harmful drive down the left.

His preliminary effort within the field was saved by Harry Seadon however the Derby keeper might do nothing to maintain out the rebound as Neil Wooden’s aspect lastly bought their objective.

The 18-year-old left-back has been one in every of United’s brightest skills at youth stage this season and as soon as once more showcased his skills as an attacking choice from protection.

Ten minutes later, Fernandez virtually bought an help when he picked out Shola Shoretire on the sting of the field, however the younger ahead noticed his effort saved after he expertly turned his marker.

United would pay the worth for his or her wastefulness in entrance of the objective after the break when the vigorous Osazee Aghatise skipped previous three gamers and coolly leveled the rating in opposition to the run of play.

Lower than 10 minutes later, they’d be given an opportunity to make up for it. The vigorous Noam Emeran was fouled within the field and a penalty was awarded.

Hannibal stepped up and coolly dispatched into the underside proper nook. It was to be The Silence of the Rams.

United sensed blood, and shortly they’d get a decisive third objective. As soon as once more, the wonderful Fernandez was on the coronary heart of it, racing down the left wing and reducing the ball again for Emeran to fireside into the again of the online.

The vigorous left-back held the important thing to the fourth objective as nicely. He stormed down the wing earlier than he chipped a pleasant ball to Charlie Savage on the back-post to seal the sport in model.

It reached the purpose the place it was a shock the Spanish starlet was not concerned when United added the fifth objective within the closing minutes of the sport. This time, Shola Shoretire broke past the Derby protection earlier than emphatically ending within the backside nook of the online.

Fernandez has loved a gradual begin to life in Manchester since he signed his four-year contract again in 2020 and obtained mortgage affords within the January window as he prepares to take his subsequent step.

He’s beginning to look snug at U23s stage and with Luke Shaw and Alex Telles forward of him at first-team stage, it may very well be a short lived swap that holds the important thing to him taking the following vital step in his growth.

Having relied on the brilliance of teenager Elanga to rescue a draw on Wednesday evening, there may be additionally loads of argument to recommend that it’ll quickly be Fernandez’s flip to get his likelihood within the senior aspect.

If you’re adequate, you might be sufficiently old. The previous Actual Madrid starlet is actually proving that.