Graduate number 250 takes a bow as Ten Hag looks to build on club legacy

ERIK ten Hag said he feels a responsibility to keep United's indelible link with the academy going strong having tried to strengthen the pathway during his time in charge at Old Trafford.

- TYRONE MARSHALL

Ten Hag handed a debut to Ethan Wheatley on Wednesday night and in the process the 18-year-old forward became the 250th academy graduate to represent the United first team. Six of those have been handed debuts under Ten Hag and four have come this season, in Dan Gore, Willy Kambwala, Omari Forson and now Wheatley, who replaced Rasmus Hojlund in the closing stages of the 4-2 win against Sheffield United.

It capped a memorable few days for Wheatley, who was on the bench for the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Sunday, scored twice in the Under-18s Premier League Cup final win against City on Tuesday night and then made first-team history 24 hours later.