The Gibraltar international is making a compelling case to be the first youth player Ruben Amorim promotes to the senior team
While Manchester United have lurched from one crisis to another, their youth teams have remained in rude health. The young Red Devils swept to a double of the under-18 Premier League North title and Premier League Cup last season while playing scintillating football and recording remarkable results, such as destroying Liverpool 9-1.
James Scanlon was one of the emerging stars in that team, netting twice in the demolition of United's greatest rivals, and his reward was to join the senior team on their pre-season tour of the United States. He was no stranger to playing with the big boys, though, as he was already a full international with Gibraltar.
The attacking midfielder has since made history with his country and has used his senior experience to his advantage at club level, making a clinical start to this season with the under-18s, scoring nine goals in just seven league games.
So, when Ruben Amorim begins work at United next week and starts to assess the youth players he could bring into the first team, Scanlon will stand out above all the other young hopefuls…
Getty Where it all began
Scanlon grew up in the Midlands and took his first steps towards becoming a professional with the academy of Derby County, at the same time that Wayne Rooney was in charge of the Rams.
Scanlon was blessed with athletic genes as his mother Gabriella Falero is a former sprinter. She was part of a relay team that still holds the national record for the 4x100m set in 1995 – 11 years before she gave birth to Scanlon.
There is a possibility that Scanlon could form part of a dynasty for club and country as his younger brother Luca, 15, is also in United's youth system and is an under-17 international for Gibraltar.
Scanlon enrolled in the United academy in 2023 and signed his first professional contract in 2024, just before heading out on tour with Erik ten Hag's senior team.
AdvertisementInstagramThe big break
Scanlon made headlines in March when, still aged 17, he made his senior international debut for Gibraltar against Lithuania, coming off the bench in a 1-0 defeat in a Nations League relegation play-off defeat. It made him the youngest United player to make an international debut since legendary forward Norman Whiteside turned out for Northern Ireland at the 1982 World Cup.
He got more appearances in friendlies against Scotland, Wales and Andorra, but he really made his mark in his first competitive start at home to Liechtenstein in the Nations League. He struck what looked certain to be the winning goal when he netted with a close-range header in the 97th minute. Liechtenstein ended up levelling with a penalty in the 114th minute but Scanlon had already etched his name into his country's history, becoming their youngest ever goalscorer.
"The Academy are really pleased with what he’s achieved at international level, it's naturally seen as great for his development to get these opportunities," a United source said.
"Gibraltar have been great with us and him, really supportive and giving him a measured introduction to life as a senior international."
Getty How it's going
The international experience has clearly helped Scanlon's development as he has made an imposing start to the season. He has already beaten his goal tally of eight from last season, with two games in particular standing out.
He struck four times in the 9-0 mauling of Blackburn on his 18th birthday and got a hat-trick in the recent 8-0 pounding of Leeds. He is the top scorer at United and the second leading marksman in the league. He has also been impressing in Europe, netting in both legs of United's 11-2 aggregate thrashing of Lithuanian side Zalgiris.
Getty Biggest strengths
Scanlon's prolific goal record stands out above anything else and yet he is a remarkably versatile player. He plays on the left of the attack in Adam Lawrence's 4-2-3-1 formation for United's under-18 side, although he is far from being a traditional winger. He is adept with both feet – against Blackburn, he scored twice with his left and twice with his right – and loves to come inside and create patterns of play.
"I just want to keep progressing in every area of my game," he told the Gibraltan FA. "When I play above my age, I try to have a big impact on whichever team I play. I try to be a creative player but I also want to bring goals, assists, help the team attack, create and score goals."
