Manchester United academy chief Nick Cox was delighted seeing so many local lads feature against Real Sociedad last week.

United started with Dean Henderson in goal, and it is sometimes forgotten he is a youth product following his loans away from the club. Mason Greenwood lined up on the right wing but the return for the second half saw the Academy representation really ramped up.

Brandon Williams, Axel Tuanzebe and Marcus Rashford all came on after the break. Shola Shoretire replaced Greenwood with 14 minutes left while Ethan Gabraith was one of the unused substitutes. Rashford even took over the armband and maybe the only disappointment was the fact Tuanzebe had a rare goal chalked off after a lengthy VAR review.

"I don't think we'll be too greedy," said Cox to manutd.com. “It was a really impressive night and that would have been the icing on the cake but that's life.

“I think the unusual thing about Thursday night is that it isn't actually that unusual,"" explained Cox to us. "“I think the world is looking on at how many Academy players were on the pitch and talking about it, quite rightly so because it's an exceptional achievement, to be in a competitive competition and winning the tie with that many young players on the pitch.

“It's something the world of football will be interested in but, actually, we know that's the expectation at our club; that's in our blood and is just what happens around here. That is what makes it most exceptional. I only have to look back as far as the Watford tie in the FA Cup [in January] and think we managed to get seven kids on the pitch - in total not all at the same time."