Trio giving promising glimpse of Red future

AFTER a testing season it seems the latest batch of captivating United fledglings are starting to spread their wings.

- SAMUEL LUCKHURST

Rasmus Hojlund only spoke of his hope he and his fellow rookies "can set an era for the club and be here many years together" on Thursday night. Here three of them were, sat together, posing in celebration.

Alejandro Garnacho mimicked West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus's celebration by sitting on the advertising hoarding and facing the pitch. He was joined by Hojlund and Kobbie Mainoo. Reds fans will hope to be watching and talking about their generation for several years.

United-bred duo Garnacho and Mainoo are still in their teens but Hojlund turned 21 today. His goal on Boxing Day feels like a coming of age and he now has four in his past four Premier League starts.

Mainoo, substituted for the first time since December, earned a standing ovation and compliments from Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford on his way to the touchline. Erik ten Hag offered a congratulatory pat on the head.

Garnacho gained a chant days after his United debut as a 17-year-old on the night of the FA Youth Cup triumph in 2022. As the frontman, Hojlund deserves a backing band and the Stockport-born Mainoo can expect to enter United's tome of a songbook soon.

The youth were underpinned by the veterans. Casemiro's urgent press made Hojlund's goal possible and, bar one major lapse, Harry Maguire was commanding on his return to the starting XI for the first time in nearly eight weeks.