Manchester United's youth team are currently gearing up for their first FA Youth Cup final in more than a decade and Joe Hugill has been a central figure to their efforts in getting there.
The centre-forward has displayed time and time again that he has a glorious knack for knowing where the goal is and has since revealed that is partly in thanks to advice given to him by United's iconic number seven Cristiano Ronaldo. The 18-year-old has explained how watching the likes of Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani up close in first-team training has been an invaluable learning experience.
Reflecting on the few times he has been selected to train with the senior stars, Hugill told The Athletic : "I loved being over there a few times, learning off the greatest player ever in Ronaldo. Cavani too. They are always giving you tips on moving in the box, where you can be, where you don’t want to be.
"You know the stature of the club, they are great players, but you want to show what you can do as well," the teenager added. "You focus on your training, hopefully you impress. I scored a few goals in training games!"
Hugill has definitely impressed whenever he has mixed with United's first-teamers and was the subject of huge praise from the since-departed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer while the Norwegian was manager of the club.
Having scored four goals in one game against fierce rivals Liverpool at youth level last year, Hugill's efforts were impossible to ignore. The game in question saw £36million signing Amad dominate the focus, but it was Hugill who stole the show.
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The former United boss was asked who, if any, he would call-up to the senior squad from that academy clash against the Reds. "If we go from that game [vs Liverpool], I’d pick Joe Hugill," Solskjaer admitted. "Four goals by Hugill, he’s a top striker as well, we’re looking forward to seeing his development.
"Amad gets a good start and why Joe didn’t take the penalty himself to get five goals I’m going to ask him." Hugill's fantastic form may lead him to the United first-team, but things could have played out very differently before he made the move to Manchester.
While still a Sunderland player, other Premier League outfits including Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and United's long-time rivals Leeds were all circling around the Black Cats keen on securing Hugill's signature. The striker's decision to choose United could pay dividends on Wednesday night, when the Red Devils face Nottingham Forest in front of 65,000 at Old Trafford.
