When Louis van Gaal arrived at Old Trafford, he promised to ensure that the United academy would get a chance to display it’s mettle. The Dutchman has a reputation for honing young talent and had been quick to place his trust in young homegrown talent as Paddy McNair, Tyler Blackett, Jesse Lingard and James Wilson all featured in the Premier League last season.

This year, due to injuries to 15 different first team members, van Gaal has had to feature in a large number of youngsters, and most of them have done very well so far. It was back in October 1937 that the Red Devils had a matchday squad which did not feature a youth team player— an extraordinary feat when you consider the money which is available in the game these days. The academy, which has produced the likes of George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton to the Class of 92 to the modern day starlets in Tom Cleverly and Danny Welbeck is always buzzing with young and happening talent,  but who will be the next player to earn a place in the first-team squad?

We run the rule over five young talents that are looking to make the step up.

5. Callum Gribbin

A fleet-footed winger by trade, Gribbin isn’t lacking on confidence by the look of his Twitter page, and he brings that swagger to the pitch, never afraid to take on an opponent and utilise the bag of tricks that he has in his locker. The former Ajax manager is keeping tabs on the youngster, as he called the 16-year-old up to first-team training ahead of the Red Devils’ tour to America in the summer. He has also starred in this season’s UEFA Youth League, playing in all four of the young Red Devils’ group games and netting in the 3-0 win at PSV.