Manchester United's Elyh Harrison, who is eligible to play for Bafana Bafana through his South African mother, saves a penalty Manchester United's Elyh Harrison, who is eligible to play for Bafana Bafana through his South African mother, saves a penalty during an EFL Trophy match against Stockport County in August 2023. Photo: Mike Morese/MI News/NurPhoto via AFP
Image: Mike Morese/MI News/NurPhoto via AFP
In a bid to revitalise his team, Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has promoted four academy youngsters to train with the first team.
With transfer funds scarce, Amorim has had to be creative in terms of bringing new players into the club's first team, and has dipped into their famed academy that has produced players like David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.
Earlier this week, Amorim called up Jack Moorhouse, Tyler Fredricson, Godwill Kukonki, and goalkeeper Elyh Harrison, who was recently recalled from his loan at Chester in the National League North, England's sixth tier.
The highly-rated Harrison was born in England, but also holds South African citizenship through his mother, and is therefore eligible to play for Bafana Bafana.
The 18-year-old joined Manchester United two years ago for £ 500 000 (R11.8 million) from third-tier Stevenage, and was first given a chance to train with the first team when Andre Onana left to play in the Africa Cup of Nations early last year.
While he is eligible to represent Bafana Bafana, Harrison has so far played for England's age group teams, and played for their Under-19 side alongside Kobbie Mainoo, the other United youngster who has turned heads recently.
Bafana Bafana assistant coach Helman Mkhalele, who is responsible for keeping an eye on European-based talents, will have no doubt been looking at the youngster, who is one of a number of players abroad who are eligible for the national team.
Harrison has impressed so much throughtout his short career that he's often played a year above his age group. He was voted the club's Reserve team player of the year after featuring heavily for the Under-21s.
His season-long loan to Chester, where he kept 9 clean cheets in 23 appearances, was cancelled earlier this week. According to reports, Amorim has head good things about the youngster and is keen to take a closer look at him in a first team environment.
IOL Sport