Lee Sharpe exclusive: Is Amorim giving young players enough of a chance at United? | OneFootball

There has been a lot of discussion about Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim’s use of young players and academy graduates in the first team since his arrival from Sporting CP a year ago.

Young talents like Chido Obi, Ayden Heaven, Patrick Dorgu and Kobbie Mainoo are struggling to get game time, while even Lenny Yoro is sometimes being switched out for Harry Maguire.

In an exclusive interview hosted by Adventure Gamers, we asked club legend Lee Sharpe – a player who made his professional debut for Plymouth Argyle aged 16 and his United debut at 17 – whether he thinks Amorim is giving youth a chance.

Times have changed

“Yeah, I think so,” Sharpe replied. “When we got our chance, you have to remember that the squad numbers were much smaller and the manager had to play us. If we had a few injuries in certain positions, the manager really had no option but to play some of the young lads.

“Now the squads are bigger with more experienced players in it, so it’s probably a little bit tougher to play the young lads at times.

“I think also when the team is so inconsistent, it can be very tough to put young players in and it’s possibly detrimental to them, their future and their mentality if they’re going out there, not being able to play so well, not being looked after by the senior players, and then taking flak from the media and from fans, it can be a tough time for them.

“So I do understand that you’ve got to be patient with them and pick the right times to play them, but he’s playing them, he’s given enough players enough time at the moment.

“I’d like to see more of Mainoo. I’d definitely like to see more of Zirkzee. I know he’s not a young lad, but more of Zirkzee. And, you know, Heaven’s getting a little bit of time.

“I’d like to see a little bit more of Obi. Because Sesko’s not hit the ground running as such. I know he’s getting better and stronger week by week and I think his hold-up play is improving. But possibly [we should] maybe see Obi a little bit more. But it’s a difficult situation when the team’s not consistent.”

We asked Sharpe, as someone whose career was affected by injury, whether bringing in players at such a young age can cause them to have injury problems later on, and whether that is a reason for holding them back a little.

Is it important to limit youngsters’ minutes to avoid later injury?

“Possibly. I don’t think that would be coming into the reckoning these days,” Sharpe replied.

“When we played, there weren’t so many fitness coaches. They have muscle tests these days. They do more weights. They do more plyometrics to make sure they’re all warm and loose and the body’s working correctly. We were just sort of thrown in and asked to play.

“So the science behind the physicality of the game are a lot more intense and a lot more in-depth these days. They’ll know more about the physicalities of these players.

“So I wouldn’t have thought [the under-use of the youngsters] was a physical thing. I just think the manager watches training and sees what’s in training. But also on that fact, sometimes you’re better in a game. And people respond better to high pressure.

“I always felt that if there was a crowd and there was more at stake, then I was more focused and I probably played a little bit better than I did in a practice game on the training pitch when no one was watching and there was less in it.

“So, sometimes you have to throw these players into what they can do on a regular basis. And I don’t just mean throw them in for half a game or one game. I mean, give them a run and let them find their way a little bit.

Is that true of Kobbie Mainoo?

“With Mainoo, it’s difficult when you’ve got experienced players in there like Bruno and Casemiro. And he’s still young, so he has got time. Maybe we’ll see him a little bit more towards the second half of the season and possibly more next season, who knows?”

Check out the first part of our interview with Lee Sharpe.

The third part will be here on The Peoples Person tomorrow.

Featured image George Wood via Getty Images

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