Youngsters shine in pre-season fixture
Manchester United secured a 5-0 victory over Rosenborg in a pre-season friendly held in Trondheim, Norway. The match saw four academy prospects contribute goals, with Shea Lacey, Jacob Devaney, Harry Amass, and Ethan Williams all finding the net. Joshua Zirkzee also scored a solo goal, marking a strong response from United following their previous defeat to Wrexham.
Manager Michael Carrick praised the young players, stating they “deserved what they got.” He highlighted their performance as a team and the quality of some of the goals scored. Carrick emphasised the importance of keeping players fit and progressing through pre-season, especially with several regular starters recuperating after their participation in the FIFA World Cup.
Radek Vitek, the 22-year-old goalkeeper, played 71 minutes and maintained a clean sheet. Vitek, who has spent recent seasons on loan at Accrington Stanley, Blau-Weiss Linz, and Bristol City, is yet to make a competitive appearance for United. He was deputising for Senne Lammens, who was involved in the World Cup quarter-finals with Belgium. Carrick expressed satisfaction with Vitek’s performance, noting the team’s defensive efforts.
Individual performances catch the eye
Among the goal-scorers, Shea Lacey, Jacob Devaney, and Harry Amass, all aged 19, particularly stood out. Their performances against Rosenborg are making a strong case for their inclusion in the squad in the coming months. Lacey’s goal, scored after he found space and moved in from the right while playing in a hybrid number 10 role, was described as having a “stamp of class” due to its smooth curl into the far corner.
Devaney, who received praise from Carrick after the earlier defeat to Wrexham in Helsinki, played in central defence despite his preferred midfield position. He demonstrated an assured presence and scored with an instinctive first-time finish from a corner. Amass, who had a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday and later at Norwich before an injury, appeared fully fit. He scored United’s fourth goal by sliding in at the far post, further impressing Carrick as a potential back-up to Luke Shaw.
The squad also featured new signing Andrey Santos, alongside regular starters such as Bryan Mbeumo, Patrick Dorgu, Luke Shaw, and Mason Mount. JJ Gabriel, a 15-year-old who was named the Premier League U18 Player of the Season last year, was an unused substitute.
Pre-season schedule and squad strengthening
This victory marks a recovery for Manchester United after their 1-0 defeat to Wrexham. The club has started its pre-season earlier than some of its rivals. Rosenborg currently holds 10th position in the Eliteserien.
United’s upcoming fixtures include matches against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm, followed by games against Paris Saint-Germain, Leeds, and AC Milan. Their Premier League campaign is scheduled to commence on Saturday, August 22, against newly-promoted Hull City. Subsequent league matches before the international break include encounters with Ipswich, Everton, Manchester City, and Fulham.
Michael Carrick took over as interim manager in January, replacing Ruben Amorim, and was later appointed on a permanent basis. He guided the team to a third-placed finish in the league after taking charge when they were in seventh position and out of all cup competitions. Carrick has already invested over £80 million this summer in players such as Santos and Youri Tielemans, as he aims to strengthen the squad for challenges across multiple competitions.
The team is looking to build on this pre-season performance as they prepare for the upcoming domestic and international fixtures.
Source: tntsports.co.uk
Harry Loxley is a Senior Football Correspondent at NewsGB.org. He spent his early career reporting East Midlands football. He focuses on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of Derby and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Derby, he watches non-league and runs a fan podcast. “Good football writing follows the people, not just the points.”