Tyrell Warren

[rondwisan]

08/07/2016 10:01, Adam Marshall
INTRODUCING... UNITED'S
TYRELL WARREN


Jose Mourinho told MUTV on Tuesday he
expects Tyrell Warren and Axel Tuanzebe to be in the squad for the opening pre-season friendly at Wigan Athletic on 16 July.

Tuanzebe established himself in the
Under-21s last season and made the
substitutes' bench for the senior side's
games at Crystal Palace and Bournemouth.

Although injury disrupted his progress, the Congo-born centre-back returned for the tail end of the title-winning campaign for Warren Joyce's youngsters and was
excellent in a holding midfield role in the
final match at Chelsea.

Warren may be a little less familiar to some supporters as he only made one start for Joyce's team and that was in the
Lancashire Senior Cup win at Blackpool
when a number of Under-18 players were
involved. The defender's other four outings at Under-21 level were all as a substitute but he gained plenty of experience in the younger age groups.

A regular in the Academy side, he made 23
starts and even donned the captain's
armband as he emerged as a key
performer. Although initially viewed as a
right-back, he showed his maturity and
leadership skills as a centre-half and was
outstanding in the 1-1 derby draw with
Manchester City.

Another fine individual performance came
in the UEFA Youth League tie against
Wolfsburg at Leigh Sports Village. His
coach Nicky Butt felt the full-back was
Man of the Match in the 1-1 draw and there was much to admire in Tyrell's tenacious approach to the task in hand. He played five of the six European fixtures, only missing the goalless stalemate with CSKA Moscow when he was an unused
substitute.

Born in Manchester and schooled in the
United way of thinking, the 17-year-old
has plenty of scope for development and
Mourinho's willingness to "accelerate" the
progress of such talents bodes well for
him, for Tuanzebe and the other youth
players at the club. The new manager's
words suggest the pathway to first-team
opportunities remains in place.