Manchester United youngsters Kobbie Mainoo and Rhys Bennett trained with the first-team on Thursday afternoon.
Mainoo, 17, and Bennett, 19, who won the FA Youth Cup with the Under-18s last season, were both absent from the Under-21s' match against Bolton in the Papa John's Trophy on Tuesday, as they trained with Erik ten Hag's first-team this week.
The Manchester Evening News understands United drew 1-1 with Everton in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Carrington on Wednesday and it's possible that Mainoo and Bennett played in that match.
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Mainoo played against Cadiz CF and Real Betis in Spain last week and Bennett made an appearance against the latter. Teden Mengi sustained an injury in the 20th minute against Betis and centre-back Bennett was substituted on to replace him.
It's understood Mainoo is highly regarded among academy staff and he's considered the leading light of his age group. The Stockport-born youngster is yet to make his debut for the club, but he was named on the bench against Newcastle two months ago.
Bennett captained the U18s to Youth Cup success last season and he celebrated his 19th birthday at the end of October.
There was also a return to the training pitch for Axel Tuanzebe, who has been out with an injury all season after returning from Napoli on loan. The defender did not travel to Spain last week, as he was completing a personal training programme.
United play Burnley on Wednesday night in the League Cup next week and Tuanzebe could be in contention to make that squad. Tuanzebe's last competitive game for United was in the 2021 Europa League final with Villarreal.
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