Vimal Yoganathan was eight years from being born when Barnsley last visited Old Trafford, in 1998. In the intervening quarter of a century the teenage midfielder has achieved something no one else has, becoming the first person of Sri Lankan Tamil descent to play professionally in England, but there is far more to his story.
The 18-year-old is a trailblazer and stepping out at Manchester United in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night would be a great inspiration for the next generation of south Asian players and recognition of the commitment he and his family have shown to get him to this stage.
