Irish youngster Lee O’Connor is in contention for his first team debut when Manchester United travel to Huddersfield Town on Sunday.
The Waterford native was one of four academy players who trained with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s senior squad yesterday.
O’Connor was added to United’s Champions League squad for their recent quarter-final meeting with Barcelona and can play in any position across the back four.
The 18 year-old joined United in 2016 and was a nominee for the Youth Player of the Year award in 2017.
Lee O'Connor of Manchester United during the Premier League 2 match at Manchester City Football Academy on April 13, 2018 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)Former United U18 youth coach Kieran McKenna – who is now first team coach under Solskjaer – is impressed with how O’Connor battled homesickness to shine in the youth squad.
“I think he has done fantastic and been a real bonus,” he said.
Step up
“You never know how a lad is going to settle in after coming from Ireland and it's a huge step up from the level he was playing at. He has been a really important part of the (youth) team at centre-half and in both full-back positions.
"That’s the benefit of having been there yourself, in terms of coming to a big academy and moving over from Ireland. It’s only natural at some stage he would feel a little bit homesick and would go through that process but he had a terrific season and made a really good impact.
"He's a really talented boy but also a very solid and dependable character, which is an important quality to have in a defender.”
O'Connor was introduced to the Ireland senior set up by former manager Martin O’Neill towards the end of 2018.
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