Manchester United stalwart returns to first-team training, and attempts to offload young talent also fail! Foden-like skills at United impress seniors

Among the "five mice" who trained separately over the summer, only Tyrell Malacia remained at Manchester United. After a period training with the youth squad, the 26-year-old Dutch left-back rejoined the first team training sessions this week. Insiders at the club insist that Malacia’s return was a pre-planned decision, not a last-minute reaction to the team’s recent poor performances.

Malacia was once linked with moves to Roma, Elche, and a Turkish club, but in the end, he went nowhere. Now that all transfer windows are closed, he can only stay at Manchester United until January. In recent weeks, Amroli has had him training with the reserves, but now he has been promoted back to the senior squad.

Malacia’s contract is in its final year, and unless he leaves during the winter transfer window, the club will release him next year. Due to two knee surgeries, he has missed 550 days over the past two years. Under Amroli’s management, he started five matches, being substituted early in four of them. Currently, United only have Patrick Doğu and Diogo Dalot as full-backs, plus 18-year-old Diego León who joined this summer.

Another player returning to training is 21-year-old academy winger Sam Mather. Negotiations with UAE’s Abu Dhabi United failed, so Mather must remain with the club. Manchester United demanded a weekend decision from Abu Dhabi United on whether to activate the buy-back clause, but the UAE side flatly refused, causing the deal to collapse.

Before the European summer transfer window closed, Mather was also linked with a Turkish club, but no agreement was reached. Now, he will be part of Manchester United’s U21 squad while also training with the first team, with his future to be reconsidered in the January window. He still aims to leave, as continuing to play youth football at his age offers no developmental benefit.

Amroli has called up several young players to join first-team training. According to the Daily Mail, Shea Lacey, dubbed the "Manchester United Phil Foden," has impressed the senior players with his technical ability. The left-footed right winger is reportedly viewed by Amroli as the team’s third-choice right winger.

It is said that Manchester United will gradually nurture Lacey, especially given his recent injury problems. This 18-year-old was born in Liverpool, with his parents and siblings supporting Liverpool, yet he is a devoted Manchester United fan! As a child, he enjoyed football and boxing, resembling another Merseyside-born United legend, Wayne Rooney.

Unlike the first team, Manchester United’s youth squads have performed excellently this season. The U21s have won all five matches, leading the Premier League 2 Division 1, while the U18s, despite a recent comeback loss to Manchester City, have also done well. The new U18 coach Darren Fletcher’s professionalism has amazed the club; he returned to work less than 24 hours after knee surgery last week. Observers believe Fletcher is destined to become a top-level coach.

Fletcher’s standout player is the 14-year-old JJ Gabriel, who scored in the match against Manchester City. So far this season, he has netted 7 goals in 6 Premier League 2 games, ranking second on the top scorers’ list and scoring at least twice as many goals as any other Red Devils teammate.

However, due to age restrictions, Gabriel will not be eligible to play for Manchester United’s first team this season, nor can he participate in the England Youth FA Cup. Therefore, Red Devils fans will have to wait longer to see him perform in official matches.