Erik ten Hag might have discovered the next Phil Foden - Manchester United academy notebook

Manchester United's Under-18s made headlines last weekend for their emphatic win over Liverpool.

That group of youngsters, who are on course to win their league, won 9-1 against Liverpool as they asserted their dominance over their Merseyside rivals in ruthless fashion.

They have enjoyed an outstanding season, but there are plenty of other academy talking points to discuss, which is the aim of this round-up from the youth set-up.

The Manchester Evening News will continue to provide the most extensive coverage of United's academy and here is the latest news, compiled in notebook format.

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Lacey takes part in senior training

Making comparisons between young players and stars of the game can often be unhelpful, but it's easy to see why Shea Lacey has been widely compared to Phil Foden.

Lacey is one of the most exciting young talents the academy has produced for years and he's set to be rewarded with his first professional contract this month.

The youngster is an exceptional prospect and took part in first-team training this week, which was excellent to see after a period on the sidelines with an injury.

The 16-year-old was born in Merseyside and comes from a family of Liverpool fans, but he's a United supporter and grew up idolising multi-Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi.

Ibragimov's superb cameo

Amir Ibragimov is another player who is causing excitement among those who follow the academy and he made a brilliant cameo for the Under-21s earlier this week.

Ibragimov was absent for some of this season through injury, but his substitute performance against Brighton at Leigh Sports Village suggests he's determined to make up for lost time.

Last year, the MEN revealed Ibragimov had trained with the first-team at just 15 years old. He only celebrated his 16th birthday at the start of this month, which is why his 30-minute display for the U21s earlier in the week was so impressive - the opposition was much older.

Ibragimov is worth keeping an eye on and he's set to have a prominent academy role next term.

Bennett's situation at Stockport

There was confusion when Rhys Bennett started for the U21s against Brighton, which suggested he might have been recalled from his loan with Stockport County.

The MEN made enquiries and revealed he hadn't been recalled, also explaining that both clubs agreed he could feature in that academy fixture to get valuable minutes.

Bennett's only start for Stockport since signing on loan came in a 4-0 defeat to Tranmere and he's been included in their matchday squad for a total of just three games.

Despite not playing, sources at Stockport have described Bennett as a 'very positive individual around the camp' and he's received praise for his 'very good attitude'.

Although Bennett's loan at Stockport hasn't gone as planned, it is hoped the months he's spent around a title-challenging squad have still been beneficial for his education.

Ennis back in action

It was a big deal when United poached Ethan Ennis from Liverpool in the summer of 2021 and the pacy forward signed his first professional contract shortly after his arrival.

However, disaster struck in August 2022 when it was confirmed he'd ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee, which meant he was sidelined for 14 months.

Ennis returned for the U21s in October and encountered a small setback, but he's made a handful of appearances in recent weeks and looks to be getting back to his best.

The MEN understands Ennis has another year left on his deal, which expires in the summer of 2025, and several different clubs are monitoring his situation.

Fletcher twins sign pro deals

Jack and Tyler Fletcher both recently signed their first professional contracts with United and they've been backed to have bright futures after signing from Manchester City.

Their father, Darren Fletcher, remains as United's technical director, for now, and the pair were signed for the academy last summer for a combined fee of £1.25million. Should they emulate their father, they would become the 13th set of brothers to play for the United first team.

Jack has made excellent progress this season, training with the first-team on multiple occasions, but Tyler has spent a significant period on the sidelines with an injury.