Manchester United academy chief Nicky Butt says Marcus Rashford was an exception when it comes to youth teamers being ready for first team football.

Butt says it's crucial they introduce their best kids gradually.

Speaking to Inside United, he said: “You've got to look at our Academy players as potential Manchester United players in the first team for 10-15 years.

"That's what we want – to breed our own players to stay at the club forever and be the leaders. To carry the baton for the next ones coming up. That is how it should work.

“If you rush them too soon, throw them in when they're not ready or in the wrong game, then it can set them back a long time.

“Sometimes it does work… look at Marcus [Rashford]. He was thrown in and never looked back. But it's something we've got to study and communicate up and down the levels of coaching staff, from the first team back down to the youth team to see who is ready.

"Some are ready physically, tactically and technically but they aren't ready mentally. If they're only 16, 17 or 18, it's a really massive thing, going to Old Trafford and playing in front of 75,000 fans, making mistakes and being able to carry that burden on their shoulders and go again. The timing has to be right."