Manchester United travel to Yeovil Town in the FA Cup on Sunday hoping to avoid another upset in the Cup this season. Although the Red Devils are unbeaten in their last ten games and the hosts have won just five games and sit at the bottom of League 1, Van Gaal said that his side is nothing for granted.
With United keen to rest some first-team players who have played a lot of games in the last month, there is a very good chance that some of the youngsters who are knocking on the first-team doors, will be given a chance to play on Sunday. With the likes of Tyler Blackett, Paddy McNair and James Wilson already relishing the first-team opportunities, who else will join them and force their way into the side? Here are the three youngsters who deserve a chance against Yeovil.
1. Andreas Pereira
Ever since signing for Manchester United’s academy from PSV Eindhoven in 2012, Andreas Pereira has flourished at Old Trafford. A Brazil-born Belgian youth international, Pereira signed a professional contract with United in 2013 aged just 17 and has since then shown just why everybody in the club’s academy raves about him.
He was the captain of the Milk Cup-winning team in 2013 and was voted the Player of the Tournament after thriving in the extra responsibility and scoring three goals. Used primarily as a No.10, he has shown that he is useful on the wings as well and is a threat from set-pieces. Confident and comfortable in possession with a very good eye for a pass, the 19-year-old is on the brink of the first-team, which is already brimming with playmakers. But with Van Gaal keen to rest Juan Mata and Angel Di Maria still not fully fit, Pereira deserves his chance against Yeovil.