Manchester United have got their eyes on some big prizes at under-18 level this season – but even their players know that, at this age, development is key.
Midfielder Jim Thwaites and central defender Dan Armer cut relaxed figures as they looked ahead to Wednesday's Premier League Under-18 cup final with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Both were part of the United team that beat Palace on Friday to book an FA Youth Cup final showdown with Manchester City. Both have impressed enough this term to be called into senior training sessions. Thwaites was on the bench for the first time at Chelsea on Saturday.
Yet both have also proved their adaptability in United's youth squads.
Thwaites has tended to play deeper than the number 10 role he previously occupied. Armer spent the first half of the season as a regular starter for the Under-21s before dropping back to the 18s, something head of academy Stephen Torpey previously explained helped when it came to working on specific aspects of his game.
"From a young age you get taught to play in numerous positions, so playing number six, eight or 10 is just helping me for the future," said Thwaites.
"Stephen Torpey has helped with my understanding of all three positions. I just want to take little bits of advice from all the coaches to keep improving and playing all three really."
Armer added: "Maybe in the 18s you get away with a bit more, probably because the second-years are more physically developed.
"There are some things you can work on and you can take more risks, which the coaches have said to us.
"Although we want to be playing 21s, with the 18s, you can just go and prove yourself and try to stand out."
