United's Boys to Men.

I'm sure almost every Manchester United fan has dreamed about scoring the winning goal in front of the Stretford End to earn the Reds a vital victory. Well, imagine not only doing it once, but twice.

Marcus Rashford must have been pinching himself the morning after his dream debut against Midtjylland as he realised exactly what he had achieved. Not only had he helped his side into a mouthwatering last 16 clash with arch rivals Liverpool, but he had also put his name in the record books as United's youngest scorer in European competition an honour previously held by the one and only George Best.

Not bad for a local lad who thought he would be on the bench hoping to get a run out for the last few minutes. Fate has a strange way of showing its hand.

It has been a season in which United have had to rely on the youngsters at the club to help out the first team due to the heavy loss of players due to injury and boy have they risen to the challenge. Jesse Lingard is the main example, a product of the United system, he has enjoyed an extended run in the side and has not let himself down not only performing well but contributing with five goals.

The main positions that have needed the most cover have been in the full back spots and they have been admirably filled by the likes of Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Donald Love, Guillermo Varela, Joe Riley and a late cameo by Regan Poole against Midtjylland.

In attack, James Wilson obviously didn't grab van Gaal's attention and was allowed to join Brighton on loan and it was a surprise that the manager recalled Will Keane as cover in the attack in place of Wilson. Andreas Pereira has been used fleetingly but has been involved in the full squad set up for a while.

And that's the main point getting the young players involved as much as possible with the first team. They might not play every week, but the fact that they are training and travelling with the more experienced players is a crucial component in any young players development. It's imperative they learn how to be a Manchester United player on and off the field.

In the first leg in Denmark and against Shrewsbury in the FA Cup, there was a bench full of academy and reserves, including the recalled from loan goalkeeper Dean Henderson as cover for Romero. Valuable experience even if they didn't manage to get involved in the matches.

It's been a mixed bag for the academy teams this season with a change in coaches after a poor season, which saw Paul McGuinness depart after years involved in the progress of many players.

With former graduate of the famous class of '92 Nicky Butt now in charge of the academy it guarantees that the young starlets' feet will remain firmly on the ground as he will lead by example and ensure his young charges do not get carried away with the fame that will surely come their way.

The reserves have had a better season sitting pretty at the top of their league and it's that side that has provided the main cover for the first team. With the likes of James Weir receiving rave reviews for his overall contribution this season, it won't be long until a few more young stars of the future will be knocking on the door of the first team.

Many negatives have been said and written about Louis van Gaal's tenure as manager of the club. However, one thing is for sure he has not been afraid to give the youth a chance. It can be argued that as he didn't sign covering players in the transfer window then he has had little or no choice but to turn to the youngsters.

The main thing is once they have been given the go ahead the players have responded well and at no point seem overawed by the step up to the first team. It's so refreshing seeing them clearly enjoying themselves and obviously playing for the club rather than their wallet and long may that enthusiasm last.

It looks like the latest batch of young talent off the production line is bright at Old Trafford and long may the tradition of nurturing talents like Rashford, Lingard & Co. continue to flourish for many more years to come.

Thanks for reading.

Miles Dunton.

Dream Debut For Rashford

Manchester United 5 FC Midtjylland 1 (agg: 6-3)

Manchester United has a new hero in the shape of 18-year-old local born Marcus Rashford whose debut double saw the Red Devils through to the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League.

In a week that will define how United's season will shape up, it was imperative that after getting through to the FA Cup quarterfinals they overcame their opponents from Denmark. And they did so with van Gaal's special brand of 'horny' football that had everybody excited in the second half.

After the shock defeat last week in the first leg there were many wrongs to put right including a home performance that could at least put a marker down for the remainder of the teams left in the Europa League that United were taking the competition seriously.

With the treatment room at Carrington full to the rafters it was a mixed bag of news for van Gaal in the run-up to the match. The return to training of Rojo and Valencia with the former on the bench for this match. But it was a game too soon for De Gea who will hopefully be fit for when United host Arsenal on Sunday in the critical Premier League game.

The starting team that van Gaal originally put out was: Romero, Varela, Carrick, Blind, Riley, Schneiderlin, Mata, Herrera, Lingard, Memphis and Martial.

Then, during the warm up the injury jinx hit United again as striker Martial pulled up with what looked like a hamstring problem. This meant that youngster Marcus Rashford would unexpectedly make his starting debut on the biggest night of his career. Also making his full debut was Joe Riley at left back.

Carrick started at center back in place of Smalling in a role that he has filled in before, so it shouldn't be a huge upheaval at the back.

The home side as expected enjoyed the majority of the play in the opening minutes with Rashford and Riley looking sharp on their first starts for the Reds.

The Danish visitors clearly came with a frustrating game plan as most clubs do when they come to Old Trafford and that was to sit everybody behind the ball when United attacked.

On the quarter hour mark Rashford showed the skill that all the fans who follow the reserves knew about as he broke at pace into the area and powered a shot towards goal which the keeper managed to turn round the post for a corner.

Memphis seemed to enjoy himself on the left and on one run beat a number of defenders to open up a chance but the end result came to nothing.

Then in the 27th minute and totally against the run of play with practically their first clear chance on goal Midtjylland scored. And it was a goal by Sisto, who waltzed through the United defence and placed a shot to the right of Romero.

United responded to the set back well with Memphis, attempting to bring his side level with a shot that almost found its way through. Just after the half hour mark the Dutch wingers persistence paid off when he weaved his way past a couple of defenders and delivered a low fizzing cross from the left which was turned into his own net by Bodurov. 1-1 and United looked up for the fight.

Schneiderlin tried the acrobatics with an overhead kick which was only just wide. Memphis was on fire as he was at the head of every United move and certainly looked on top of his game. His confidence was there for all to see as he tried to beat the keeper from thirty yards as the ball flew just wide.

Now the Red Devils needed two more goals to qualify and if they kept feeding Memphis then you got the feeling anything was possible. From the home side's seventh corner the away side needed a great save from Anderson to keep their noses in front on aggregate.

As the clearance came back towards the visitors penalty area Memphis flicked the ball onto Herrera and as the midfielder entered the box he was tripped to earn United a penalty.

Mata took the huge responsibility and placed the ball towards the bottom corner. But Anderson dived well to turn the ball out for a corner. It was a great save by the keeper who read Mata's intention well. This means that the Spaniard will be taken off spot kick duties for sure.

Half-time and all square at 1-1 in a half that United totally controlled and was unlucky not to be ahead after all the possession they enjoyed. In the end, they shot themselves in the foot with a lack of quality in defending by Blind and Carrick for the visitor's opener by showing a lack of commitment to make a challenge on Sisto as he danced across the area.

On a positive note it was all about Memphis as he tortured the Midtjylland defenders and was at the heart everything United produced, including an assist for the own goal and the pass for the penalty.

The second half got underway with the pressure on United to turn the tie around and they would have loved the chance of an early goal which almost came when Mata floated a delightful ball over to the far post where Schneiderlin was waiting unmarked. The Frenchman inexplicably hit his shot back across the goal when it looked certain he would blast the ball into the back of the net.

Herrera had the next chance as he ran onto a far post cross from Memphis, but the midfielder seemed to change his mind about shooting and elected to head the ball which went just wide.

It was all United as they went in search of their second goal at the same time having to keep an eye on the counter from the visitors especially with their half-time substitute and scorer from the first match 2.01m Onuachu.

Just before the hour mark, the atmosphere in the ground went a bit flat as United took their foot off the pedal and the visitors enjoyed more of the ball.

The game, the tie and the atmosphere were suddenly brought back into life in the 63rd minute as Marcus Rashford scored a wonderful goal on his debut in front of the Stretford End after great work by Mata, who won a lost cause as he saved the ball from going out of playing and pulled it back into the area and their was Rashford first to react and placed the ball gleefully into the back of the net. A great moment for the 18 year old and hopefully the first of many at the Theatre of Dreams.

Lingard seemed to have won a penalty for his side and as the crowd cheered the referee decided wrongly, that the forward had dived and booked him for simulation. A decision that could have had a huge bearing on the outcome of this match as United were still in search of the goal that would see them through. Also, it means that Lingard will be suspended for the next match in the competition.

Memphis continued to conjure up chances from the left and you got the feeling that if any player was going to create something it was him.

As the game entered the final fifteen minutes it was the debut boy who turned hero again as Rashford side-footed in from a chipped cross from Varela. What a debut from the Manchester born striker it will be a night he will never forget.

Following the goal, it was a welcome return to play for fans favourite Marcos Rojo who came on for Joe Riley, who certainly played his part in his first start for United. Lingard was also withdrawn by van Gaal and replaced by Pereira.

Two minutes left on the clock and United was awarded a second penalty for a handball by Hansen. The crowd was calling for Rashford to take it and get his debut hat-trick, but Herrera took the responsibility and dispatched his shot firmly into the back of the net.

Midtjylland would see out the last few minutes of the match with ten men when Romer received his marching orders after a torrid night up against Memphis.

Then at last after all of his hard work Memphis got his just reward by netting United's fifth goal of the night with a cut in from the left and a shot that gave the keeper no chance. A deserved goal for the man of the match.

There was still time for another player to make his debut for United as Regan Poole entered the match in place of Herrera in added time.

Final score 5-1 and 6-3 on aggregate saw United successfully through to the next round after a second-half display that was more like United of old as the Stretford End hailed a new hero in the shape of youngster Rashford who scored a double.

Not bad for a player who thought he would be stuck on the bench proving that dreams do come true and he took the opportunity that was presented to him with the confidence of a quality forward.

After all his troubles this season it was pleasing to finally see Memphis perform to the level that everyone knows he can play at. The extra training sessions with Giggs are clearly paying off.

Next up is Arsenal at home in the Premier League for United. They will not have it as easy as they had it in this match and with Martial added to the injury list the team selection could be a headache for van Gaal. However, in Rashford he has the option of a young man who has the ability and confidence to grab the goals.

Thanks for reading.

Miles Dunton.

United Tame The Shrews.

Shrewsbury Town 0 Manchester United 3

After suffering a humiliating defeat at the hands of FC Midtjylland in the Europa League here was a chance for van Gaal and his beleaguered side to put some passion and a semblance of pride back into their game.

Playing against the lowest ranked team still left in the FA cup and with a tasty home tie against West Ham awaiting the winner in the quarterfinals should have been incentive enough for the Red Devils to ease through the 5th round.

With so many players injured van Gaal once again turned to a mixture of experience and youth with a starting XI comprised of: Romero, Varela, Smalling, Blind, Borthwick-Jackson, Schneiderlin, Herrera, Mata, Lingard, Memphis and Martial.

United got off to a quick start in their changed strip of all white as they won a corner in the first minute. Blind's delivery was met by the head of Smalling, but the captain's header was over the bar.

Memphis tried a couple of long range efforts but each shot only just managed to stay in the small ground, which was bouncing with noise from both sets of fans. A true cup tie atmosphere.

It was after ten minutes that the Shrews keeper Leutwiler was first tested and that was from a low drive from Memphis that he managed to palm to safety. It was all United without the final punch.

Herrera tried his best to kick the ball out of the stadium, but failed as his shot only reached row W. Maybe he and Memphis had a side bet on who could belt the ball into the car park first.

After twenty minutes and the home side were holding out against United who just couldn't find the killer touch to warrant all their possession. Same old story of the season. But even United would find it difficult not to carve out a clear-cut chance in the remaining seventy minutes, surely.

The away side were awarded a free-kick right on the edge of the penalty area which was taken by Memphis, but on the way to goal the ball struck the back of Martial's head and went out for a goal kick. It looked like the ball was on the way to the corner of the net. It totally summed up United's play at the moment.

Martial then almost turned the tie in United's favour with a show of quick feet inside the area and a shot which was saved by the keepers legs then cleared off the line by Grandison. That was by far the closest United had come to taking the lead.

Then up stepped skipper Smalling in the 37th minute to do what his forwards couldn't and scored the goal the team badly needed. It started with a strong headed challenge by Schneiderlin that fell nicely into the path of Smalling who had stayed upfield following a corner.

The defender showed calmness under pressure and struck the ball into the ground and on its way towards goal it took a deflection and looped into the goal. 1-0 ahead and you would expect the Red Devils to put this game to bed as soon as possible. They continued to attack and the pressure paid off right on the stroke of half-time.

It became 2-0 to United as Shrewsbury gave away another free-kick in a dangerous position on the edge of their area and, this time, up stepped Mata to deliver a perfectly placed shot bent over the wall and into the back of the net to put the tie beyond any doubt. There was a claim that three United players were standing in an offside position between the wall and keeper as Mata struck his shot, therefore it could be claimed they were obstructing Leutwiler's view as he was rooted to his line.

Half-time and United were comfortably leading a tie they had controlled from the first whistle even if at times they had made it look more difficult than it should have been.

Shrewsbury had not troubled United at any time but had been fairly overzealous in some of their challenges which the referee would have to keep an eye on in the second half. The image of the half had to be the smile on van Gaal's face when Smalling put his team 1-0 ahead.

United started the second half and van Gaal made one change to his side by giving a first team debut to young full-back Joe Riley who replaced Borthwick-Jackson at left back.

The away side picked up where they had left off in the first half by immediately going on the attack and caused panic in the home defence and won an early corner.

There were two close attempts on goal within minutes as first Memphis showed his determination with a run and shot that flew inches wide then Martial watched his close-range header go agonisingly wide.

Just after the hour mark, United sailed into a three-goal lead through a smart finish by Lingard, who put the ball away on the half-volley at the far post following a delightfully flighted ball by Herrera. The move was started with a huge throw out by Romero which caught the home defence well and truly on the back foot.

Within minutes of the goal wand with clearly an eye on two important games coming up van Gaal decided to withdraw Mata and replaced him with Pereira.

With twenty minutes left on the clock van Gaal made his final change of the match by giving Martial a well-deserved rest and put Keane on up front.

Lingard almost grabbed his second, however, he got the ball tied up to his feet before he could get away a shot.

Once again the away fans were in fantastic voice making the majority of the noise inside the stadium of just over 9,000 spectators.

Will Keane's first taste of action almost saw him score the fourth goal, but his left-footed strike hit the post. Unfortunately for the young forward it was his last taste of action as he had to leave the field with what looked like a groin strain. So, having used up all their substitutes, United had to see out the final fifteen minutes of the match with only ten men.

The home side did, at least, have an attempt on goal as late as the 84th minute, which United's defence managed to clear. Suddenly Shrewsbury had a belief that they could score as Ogogo had a totally free header which he directed across the goal and wide. In all honesty, Romero should have picked the ball out of his net after the striker was left unmarked and in a great goal scoring position.

At the death, Memphis was still trying to get his name on the scoresheet but the keeper managed to block his close-range effort.

Cole came close for the Shrews with a shot that only just went over Romero's bar. You wonder what would have happened if Shrewsbury had played the whole match with as much energy as they had shown in the final ten minutes.

Full-time 3-0 and, in the end, a job well done by United. If not scintillating football is was a vast improvement on recent results and sets up a mouth-watering home tie in the quarterfinals against West Ham United. But let us not forget that this was a victory against a Football League One side and there will be tougher teams ahead. For United it was a step in the right direction.

Next up is the small matter of the return tie against FC Midtjylland and another chance for van Gaal and his team to reignite the season and make amends for the first leg.

Thanks for reading.

Miles Dunton.