Erik ten Hag poised to make Man Utd history with two debuts against Wigan

08 January 2024 , 11:22

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Joe Hugill could follow fellow youngster Kobbie Mainoo in making a senior debut (Image: PA)

Erik ten Hag has been tipped to bring the number of Manchester United academy graduates to make first team debuts up to 250 on Monday night.

The total stood at 245 when Ten Hag took over as manager ahead of the 2022-23 season. The former Ajax boss then gave Kobbie Mainoo his senior bow in February, before handing minutes to debutants Willy Kambwala and Dan Gore this season.

Joe Hugill and Rhys Bennett could be the next in line. Both players have been named among United's substitutes in recent weeks, and the cup outing may well be seen as an opportunity to give both a taste of senior competitive action for the first time.

Striker Hugill, 20, who joined United's academy from Sunderland in 2020, has seven goals in nine Premier League 2 outings this season and was an unused sub for the first team's win at Everton in November. Bennett, also 20, has played the last five league games for United's under-21 side and was on the bench for the defeat at West Ham where fellow defender Kambwala made his bow.

The Manchester Evening News suggests opportunities for youngsters could arise if the game is "boxed off" early on. However, United only scored one first-half goal en route to last season's FA Cup final before Bruno Fernandes brought that total up to two with his penalty at Wembley.

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That goal did come in the third round, with Antony striking in the fourth minute in an eventual 3-1 win. United won by the same scoreline in subsequent rounds against Reading, West Ham and Fulham - with none of their goals coming before minute 54 - before beating Brighton on penalties in the semi-final following a goalless draw.

United's last meeting with Monday's opponents Wigan brought a comfortable victory in the fourth round of the FA Cup in 2017. Even then, though, the game was goalless until Henrik Mkhitaryan struck on the stroke of half-time.

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Rhys Bennett was on the bench for the recent league trip to West Ham (Nigel Keene/ProSports/REX/Shutterstock)

Two players who definitely won't play a part at the DW Stadium are Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro. Both men have spent time on the treatment table and are still some way off returning.

"They are a long time already back on the grass and now they return back into team training but not fully, so partial," Ten Hag told reporters. "Now they have to make the next steps and that may take some days, I think even weeks."

“[They are] two class players and they will bring the team forward. We know that and now we're looking forward to their return in the team on matchdays."

Tom Victor