Manchester United’s academy director Stephen Torpey has urged head coach Ruben Amorim to avoid selecting ‘token gesture’ players.
United have maintained a remarkable record of including an academy player in every first-team matchday squad since October 1937.
Amorim has committed to keeping the tradition alive but the incredible run, which has lasted over 4000 games, has come under pressure this season.
With Kobbie Mainoo missing United’s last game with a knock – a 2-2 draw against Tottenham – Amorim named Jack Fletcher on the bench instead.
‘We don’t want it to be a token gesture that we have players in our first team to keep a tradition going,’ United’s academy director Torpey told the BBC.
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‘We want players who are ready, can make an impact and make our first team better, and who our fans can be proud of.
‘There is no greater feeling than one of your own stepping out.’
Fletcher, 18, has never played for United’s first team and is still waiting to make his debut for the club.
The attacking midfielder, who can also be deployed as a winger, has scored nine goals and produced four assists in 23 games for United U21s.
The England U19s international is the son of former United player Darren Fletcher.
Waddle: Mainoo should leave in January
Meanwhile, Chris Waddle believes United academy graduate Mainoo needs to leave the club in the January transfer window.
Mainoo has not started a single Premier League game for the Red Devils so far this season and was not called up by England in November.
Quizzed about Mainoo going out on loan to West Ham or leaving United permanently to kickstart his career, Waddle told shekicks.net: ‘For Kobbie, he knows that you just have to play.
‘If you’re not playing, it’s easy for an international manager to pick someone else. Nobody is going to argue with [Thomas] Tuchel’s decision to go for someone playing more regularly.
‘Mainoo’s had a change of fortune this season. He’s out of the team, but in his absence, United have turned things around. They’re playing quite well, they’re looking better.
‘If Kobbie isn’t playing then he’s not going to go to the World Cup, so when January comes around, he needs to look at any of the interested clubs who make contact.
‘Whether it’s a loan move or permanent, so be it… If you’re looking to impress your national team manager, then you just have to be playing. In January he needs to get out if he’s not playing still.’