Manchester United Wonderkid Jim Thwaites Trains with First Team Ahead of Brighton Clash

Manchester United are understood to have included a 16-year-old in first-team training earlier this week. Jim Thwaites joined the senior team’s preparations at Carrington for Manchester United’s upcoming Premier League fixture against Brighton. Widely regarded as one of the club academy’s leading prospects in his age group, Thwaites won the club’s Goal of the Season award for both Under-16 and Under-18 terms last term. Hence, it was not surprising to see the 16-year-old among the academy players drafted into the training session to make up numbers ahead of the fixture against Brighton. Thwaites’ inclusion is quite significant given his tender age.

Giving a response to training with Manchester United’s senior team for the first time, Thwaites shared a picture of his boots on Instagram. As per Manchester Evening News, the young talent had written, “Good first session with the first team,” in the caption.

Thwaites has come up through the youth teams at Old Trafford. The 16-year-old was one of the 10 players who signed a first-year scholarship deal earlier this summer. This specific type of deal was agreed on as UEFA does not permit young players to sign professional contracts until they are 17 years old. Thwaites has already featured for the club’s U16, U18 and U21 sides last season. He made nine appearances for the U18s, scoring a crucial equaliser in the 2-2 draw with Derby County. It salvaged the side’s unbeaten streak in only his third appearance in that age group. Thwaites made his development squad appearances as a second-half substitute in Premier League 2. He played the second fixture against Middlesborough.

Thwaites plies his trade as an aggressive midfielder. At just 16 years of age, the young talent already had the opportunity to feature with world-class exponents of his role such as Bruno Fernandes. Thwaites is now expected to play a key role in the U18s under Adam Lawrence this season.

Manchester United began their Premier League journey on a positive note as they beat Fulham 1-0 in their season opener thanks to a goal from their new signing Joshua Zirkee. The Erik ten Hag-coached side will next take on Brighton in an away fixture in the Premier League tomorrow, August 24.