Jack Fletcher, son of former Manchester United star Darren Fletcher, has journeyed to London as part of the squad for Manchester United’s match against Tottenham this Saturday afternoon.

The 18-year-old, who has yet to make his first-team debut, was frequently seen on the bench last season. He steps in for Kobbie Mainoo, who is currently sidelined due to injury.

In recent weeks, Mainoo has been the sole academy graduate in manager Amorim’s lineup. Meanwhile, veteran goalkeeper Tom Heaton, at 39, has been pushed down the ranks following the signing of Belgian keeper Senne Lammens.

Jack Fletcher, an England youth international, is following in the footsteps of his father Darren, a former United academy player who amassed an impressive collection of honors, including six league titles and a European Cup. Darren now serves as United’s under-18s head coach.

Jack, a talented left-footed midfielder, joined Manchester United alongside his twin brother Tyler in July 2023 from Manchester City, with the duo’s transfer costing the club a total of £1.25 million.

Darren Fletcher’s son Jack has travelled to London for Man United’s clash with Tottenham

An England youth international, Jack’s father is Darren, the former United academy graduate who won six league titles among nine major honours and is the current under-18s head coach

Fletcher has been picked for England’s Under-19 squad for their trio of European Championship qualifiers in Lithuania and could meet twin Tyler, who is in Scotland’s squad 

Fletcher has been picked for England’s Under-19 squad for their trio of European Championship qualifiers in Lithuania, beginning next week. He could meet Tyler, who is in Scotland’s squad. 

His selection appears to be a deliberate decision from United, with manager Ruben Amorim previously expressing his desire to maintain the club’s tradition.

‘We want to maintain that, I don’t want to be the guy to break that record, or that idea,’ Amorim said in September.

‘If you see the past of Manchester United, it’s built on kids who grow up here for a long time. I think that should be our goal in the future, so I should try to maintain that, that is for sure.’

United define a homegrown player as one who joined the club before the age of 21, played at a junior level below the first team, and has not represented another side at senior level.

The other academy product to have been included in a squad this season is Stockport-born Tyler Fredricson. The 20-year-old defender started for United in their Carabao Cup defeat at Grimsby.

Last month, Jim Ratcliffe criticised the academy, telling the Times’ Business Podcast: ‘The other thing that we haven’t even begun to start with is the academy, which is fundamentally important in football.

The other academy product to have been included in a squad this season is Tyler Fredricson

Mainoo has yet to start a Premier League game this season ahead of next summer’s World Cup

‘The academy has really slipped at Manchester United. But you need the academy to be producing talent all the time. It helps you financially. And you have to have a certain number of British players in your squad.’

Meanwhile, Kobbie Mainoo’s injury will be a concern after the 20-year-old was once again omitted from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.

Mainoo has yet to start a Premier League game this season, and his World Cup hopes appear to be fading as Ruben Amorim continues to favour a midfield pairing of Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro.

It marks the first major setback of the youngster’s career, coming just months after his request for a summer loan move was rejected.

His situation mirrors the broader trend of academy talents seeking opportunities elsewhere. Marcus Rashford is on loan at Barcelona, Alejandro Garnacho made a summer move to Chelsea, and Scott McTominay has been thriving at Napoli following his £26 million transfer last year.