Manchester United’s season might not have gone according to plan, at least in the league, but the youth development stories have been a bona fide success.
Despite a season of struggle, youngsters like Harry Amass, Chido Obi, Tyler Fredricson, and Ayden Heaven have cemented their first-team places.
The best thing about all this is that Man Utd’s next batch of youngsters is equally talented, perhaps even more, and a 17-year-old “Next David Beckham” might be at the forefront of it.
He’s already special and in a campaign where the U18s almost won the title in a tense race against Manchester City, he’s come on leaps and bounds.
Photo by Zohaib Alam – MUFC/Manchester United via Getty ImagesJim Thwaites is a special talent
The batch after the likes of Amass and Fredricson contains exciting talents like Shea Lacey, Amir Ibragimov, Samuel Lusale, and more, but Jim Thwaites stands out as a special talent.
The 17-year-old had his first season with the U18s this year and he has sent repeated reminders of his breathtaking quality on the ball.
He assisted again for Albert Mills in Man Utd U18s’ recent game against Sunderland and it predictably came off a set piece.
Jim Thwaites vs Sunderland u18s (H)
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Thwaites has got a magical ability on set-pieces, be it free kicks or corners which takes the mind back to David Beckham’s mastery of the same.
Thwaites has already scored five free-kick goals this season and the majority of his assists have come off set-pieces too, as he’s become as much a guarantee from dead-ball situations as a player can possibly be.
Unlike Beckham, however, Thwaites plays in central midfield, which will work to his benefit in the long run, especially next season when he can stake his claim to be Christian Eriksen’s replacement.
His technique is already other-worldly and he isn’t very small either, which can often stop youth players from breaking through in a physical Premier League.
He’s announced himself at the U18 level with brilliant performances with a special talent at set-pieces and the next step should be taken soon.
Man Utd’s plans for Jim Thwaites next season
It is a testament to how much Thwaites has impressed that he’s already been called up to the U21s squad on a couple of occasions.
Next season, the plan should be to make him a permanent member of the U21s setup as he’s already proving to be too good for the U18s level.
Because of his special skill set at set-pieces, loan interest in his services should be plenty as well, since he’s good for 5-6 assists based on that skill alone.
However, United would do well to keep him at the club, bring him to train with the senior squad as they’ve done on occasion this season, and maybe drip-feed some minutes to see how he handles the senior team step-up.
If nothing else, his set-piece delivery is already Premier League level like a certain David Beckham who thrilled world football with his free-kicks and crosses.