Manchester United made significant progress in the 2022-23 season, but Erik Ten Hag will expect even more in his second full season with the club.

Last season, Alejandro Garnacho broke through to make a significant impression in Ten Hag’s first squad, and a number of outstanding academy prospects will be looking to follow in his footsteps in 2023-24.

Pre-season, as always, provides an excellent opportunity for the kids on the periphery of the senior group. Here are five players who will be looking to make an impression in this summer’s friendly.

Kobbie Mainoo

“He gets his opportunity because he deserves it.” Because he demonstrated it in the Under-21s and in our training,” Ten Hag said during United’s pre-season tour of the United States.

“He demonstrated a high level, and now he must demonstrate it in games.” So the pre-season is ideal for putting him to the test.

“He has a chance to make the game squad and get some playing time.” We’ll see, but I’m convinced he can accomplish it. We’ll have to wait and see whether it happens.”

Last season, Mainoo had a couple of cameo appearances for United’s first team, but his first-team time was fewer than 90 minutes.

Omari Forson

After developing his skills in the development systems of West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur, the prodigiously skilled offҽnsivҽ midfielder joined Carrington in 2020. He’s subsequently built a name for himself in the Under-21s and has long been touted as the next talent deserving of first-team opportunities.

Forson has yet to make his senior competitive debut. Ten Hag has handed Forson significant minutes in pre-season victories over Arsenal, Leeds, and Lyon, and it appears that he will make the move up soon.

Expect him to be on the outskirts of the first-team squad in 2023-24, with game time in domestic cups, and if not, a first loan away would be good. The 19-year-old seemed to be prepared.

Alvaro Fernandez

Manchester United is rumourҽd to have beaten Barcelona and Manchester City to Fernandez’s signature in the 2020 transfer window. He came from Real Madrid’s legendary Cantera and progressed through United’s youth ranks.

Fernandez, United’s Under-23 Player of the Year in 2021-22, spent last season on loan at Preston North End, where he impressed in his first season as a senior man.

“Hopefully, I can stay in the United first team,” Fernandez recently told the Spanish newspaper AS.

“If it doesn’t happen and I have to take a loan, then I’ll keep working hard and growing.” I’m 20 years old and all I want to do is play. But if it can be at United, that’s even better.”

Marc Jurado

Jurado, a La Masia graduate, joins Garnacho and Fernandez in the contingent who arrived from Spain to provide some talent to Carrington’s young levels.

The Spain Under-20 international has been with the Red Devils since 2020 and is now pushing for first-team opportunities. Jurado scored the sole goal for United against Wrexham, demonstrating outstanding movement in the box to get on the end of a cross from his countryman Fernandez.

Jurado, a right-back who can also play as a winger, came off the bench at halftime against Leeds and Lyon, as Ten Hag replaced a more experienced first-team with a slew of academy players.

Joe Hugill

Hugill was a prolific junior player, scoring 11 goals in 12 Premier League 2 outings last season. He now confronts a career-defining year or two ahead of him.

The 19-year-old striker scored against Leeds and guided the team to victory over Wrexham. His sole senior competitive outing to date has been a handful of games on loan to local National League side Altrincham last season, and it will be intriguing to see how he fits into his parent club’s plans in the future.