MANCHESTER UNITED have promoted two youngsters to their first-team squad ahead of the return to domestic action.
Those Red Devils stars not on World Cup duty have been on a warm-weather training camp in Spain and were pictured hard at work in a training session at the Jerez de la Frontera last week.
And they also got some much-needed match action while out there as United lost to 4-2 Cadiz on December 7 before Nabil Fekir scored the only goal as Real Betis defeated Erik ten Hag’s side.
United defeated Fulham 2-1 last time out on November 13 to move fifth in the Premier League.
But they will have to be up for the cup next week when they host Burnley in the Carabao Cup at Old Trafford on Wednesday in their first competitive game back since that Craven Cottage outing.
And they could have two new academy graduates within their ranks after midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, 17, and defender Rhys Bennett, 19, trained with the first-team on Thursday.
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The duo, who lifted the FA Youth Cup last term, were both left out of the U21s squad for the Papa John's Trophy on Tuesday ahead of their session with the seniors.
The Manchester Evening News understands United drew 1-1 with Everton in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Carrington on Wednesday and they say “it's possible that Mainoo and Bennett played in that match”.
Mainoo got a taste of action last week against Cadiz and Real Betis while Bennett also got minutes against the latter.
Mainoo is “highly-regarded among academy staff” and is “considered the leading light of his age group”.
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The England U18 international has not played competitively for the club, but he was an unused substitute against Newcastle two months ago.
Meanwhile, centre-back Bennett has already shown his leadership qualities by captaining the youth side to cup glory last term.
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