Travis Binnion has confirmed Shola Shoretire will continue his academy development 'around' Manchester United's first-team.
Shoretire has long been considered one of the brightest talents in the academy and he made history last year when playing against Real Sociedad in the Europa League, which made him the youngest player to appear for United in European competition.
The 18-year-old won the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award during the 2020/21 season and he built on that promise by contributing nine goals and 10 assists last term, but he most recently endured a slow start to the new campaign.
ALSO READ: Fletcher watches McNeill score as United U21s lose on penalties
Shoetire scored his first goal of the season against Blackburn in the Premier League 2 earlier this month and another three goals have followed, which has pleased Binnion, who is responsible for taking the U21s' Papa John's Trophy fixtures.
The forward scored against Fleetwood on Tuesday night and Binnion discussed his performance after the game. Binnion admitted that Shoretire's pre-season wasn't ideal but that he is now beginning to deliver, which could impress Erik ten Hag.
"I thought he [Shoretire] was excellent from start to finish," Binnion told the Manchester Evening News . "He was an outlet all night, I thought his all-round game in terms of his running ability, his close control, goal threat [was good].
"I think he assisted the first goal. Shola is a very good player, he's getting into his stride now and he's got to keep working hard and nights like this will help with that, in terms of impressing the manager and [Darren] Fletch and the wider football world.
"He's his own biggest critic. He knows that he's started to perform in the last few weeks. It was a little bit of stop-and-start pre-season for him. There was interest in him on loan but the club felt for his development he needs to be in and around the first-team.
"He's training with them on a regular basis, so like a lot of our players, they're in with the manager on a daily basis and he's got close eyes on him and a great interest in him. Shola's definitely in that mix of players."
Binnion also confirmed that more players will soon train with first-teams at other Football League sides, as part of the United's ‘Pro Experience Programme’, which gives academy youngsters the opportunity to take part in regular senior training elsewhere.
The MEN revealed last week that Maximillian Oyedele had been training with Doncaster Rovers. Oyedele made his international debut for Poland U18s last term and he signed his first professional deal at United in May.
READ NEXT:
