James Scanlon: Man United’s Gibraltarian Gem Ready to Shine

When it comes to producing young talent, Manchester United’s academy remains one of the most prolific in England. Even as the club faces turbulent times, it has continued to nurture young players and offer them chances on the grand stage. With a remarkable history of academy graduates like Marcus Rashford, the focus on developing players from within seems stronger than ever under the stewardship of United’s new manager, Rúben Amorim. And James Scanlon, a talented young attacker from Gibraltar, could soon be joining this prestigious list.

Under Erik ten Hag, seven academy players were given their debut, Charlie McNeill, Kobbie Mainoo, Daniel Gore, Willy Kambwala, Omari Forson, Ethan Wheatley and Toby Collyer. The Dutchman also included several academy products as key men in his team, with both Garnacho and Rashford becoming key to ten Hag’s Red Devils. Ruben Amorim, known for his tactical flexibility and willingness to promote young talent, could soon introduce Scanlon to the senior squad.

Who is James Scanlon?

James Scanlon comes from a sporting family, his mother holds the record for the 4 x 100m relay record in Gibraltar and his younger brother Luca is also a promising footballer in the Manchester United academy. A Gibraltanian footballer has never played for Manchester United, but this looks set to change when Scanlon makes his first-team debut.

Despite being only 18 and playing predominantly for United’s U18s, Scanlon has already made international appearances for Gibraltar, scoring a goal in the UEFA Nations League against Liechtenstein. Scanlon’s position as a full Gibraltarian international within a major English club’s academy is rather unique. Should he make his first-team debut, he’ll be the second player from Gibraltar to play for Manchester United. The other is none other than Stoke legend Danny Higginbotham.

A Prolific Start to the Season

James Scanlon’s form this season has been nothing short of massively impressive. The attacking midfielder has scored ten goals and registered four assists in just seven matches for United’s U18s. A tally that should gain considerable buzz among fans and coaches alike, but is somehow overshadowed by other talents in the youth team like Shea Lacey, Amir Ibragimov and none other than Chido Obi-Martin. James Scanlon should be playing at a level above the under-18s.

His consistent performances, vision, and versatility make him a valuable asset in the attacking third, whether creating chances or finishing them himself. Some fans have been calling for him to be more involved for the under-21s, with some saying he deserves a first-team call-up, but what makes him special and exciting?

What Makes James Scanlon stand out?

The 2006-born academy player primarily plays as an attacking midfielder or on the left wing with the license to drift inside into the half spaces, this works best when the full-back overlaps and holds the width. In the last two seasons, Scanlon has formed a great partnership with Harry Amass and Bendito Mantato – the two left-backs excel at overlapping and holding the width, allowing Scanlon to occupy central spaces alongside the auxiliary number ten. This forms the 3-2-5 structure that is so common in modern football, used by Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta, Erik ten Hag, and the new Manchester United manager Rúben Amorim.

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While Ruben Amorim traditionally uses wing-backs and a back-three system, he frequently plays with two inside forwards flanking a central striker. This structure could suit James Scanlon perfectly. He would likely operate on the left side, linking with a central striker, an ideal position given his preference for attacking the spaces between the right-back and right centre-back of the opposition.

At Manchester United, this could look like this:

Many fans believe that Alejandro Garnacho isn’t suited to playing inside and think that Amorim will turn him into an attacking left-wing back, this gives James Scanlon a potential pathway into the first team as Marcus Rashford’s backup. Like Rashford, the Gibraltarian likes to play on the last line of the defence in between the right back and the right centre back. This leaves defenders unsure as to who should be marking him and he is often left in space with time to find a pass or shoot himself.

Match Moments: Youth Football Highlights

Manchester United under 18s recently played Leeds United away from home, winning 8-0 with James Scanlon scoring a hat trick to seal the victory. Just after halftime, the Gibraltarian was found in the last line of defence (the player in the white circle) and was played through to make it 5-0 with a composed finish into the top right corner. Victor Musa won the ball after a short goal kick, he found Scanlon with a simple pass into his feet and the attacking midfielder only took two touches to score.

Despite being known for his creativity, Scanlon is a very well-rounded footballer with the composure to finish chances and set them up for his teammates. When Amorim takes charge of Manchester United, James Scanlon should be promoted into the under-21s and potentially feature in the first-team squad before the end of the season. At just 18, time is on his side and there is no pressure for him to succeed soon but the potential is there.

Amorim has already hinted at his trust in young talent, promoting several academy players since his arrival. This development-first mentality will likely give Scanlon the chance to feature in the U21s and, perhaps, the first team before the season’s end. He’s young, and the club is under no pressure to rush him, but his performances have put him on a fast track.

Carrington has produced no shortage of talents who’ve gone on to impress at Old Trafford and beyond. James Scanlon has all the makings of a player who could carry on this tradition. With Amorim at the helm, we may soon witness the rise of United’s Gibraltarian gem.