Son of Manchester United legend set to start for the first time, replacing Mount! Zakaria Zirkzee’s transfer saga may help him achieve his dream

Manchester United prospect Jack Fletcher could experience a milestone in 2025’s last game by possibly making his first start under Ruben Amorim against the struggling Wolves. On Boxing Day, he substituted the injured Mason Mount at halftime, played for 45 minutes, and received commendation from the coach.

According to English media, Mount’s injury is muscular. Although he participated in training this week, due to his poor injury history, Manchester United may not risk fielding him again within a few days. Additionally, captain Bruno Fernandes is suffering from a thigh strain, and academy midfielder Kobe Meno has a calf issue. Therefore, Amorim, who plans to continue with the 4-2-3-1 formation, needs to find another starting number 10.

Jack Fletcher and Dutch forward Zakaria Zirkzee are currently the two main options. The 18-year-old Fletcher, son of club legend Darren Fletcher, made his debut against Aston Villa and quickly earned Amorim’s trust, securing consecutive appearances.

Amorim praised his outstanding performance and expressed satisfaction with the player’s work ethic on the pitch. Amorim said, "He is truly humble and hardworking, which makes him deserving of his first appearance at Old Trafford."

Notably, during the Manchester United vs Newcastle match, not only did Jack Fletcher appear on the field, but his twin brother Tyler Fletcher was also on the bench. Their father Darren watched from the stands alongside Bruno Fernandes, Maguire, and Tom Heaton.

Jack Fletcher wears the number 38 jersey for Manchester United’s first team, while Tyler sports number 39. Both transferred back to the Red Devils from Manchester City’s youth academy, with their transfer fee setting a record for their age group.

Jack Fletcher can play as an attacking midfielder, with Cunha and Patrick Dogu positioned on the left and right wings respectively. In the Newcastle match, he outperformed Zirkzee to earn the starting spot, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he starts against Wolves. Especially considering the 24-year-old Dutch striker is actively seeking a move, showing interest in Serie A’s Roma, and might not play with full intensity to avoid injuries that could affect his transfer.

Training footage released by Manchester United shows that this week, the Fletcher brothers, Shea Lacy, Bendito Mantato, Goodwill Kukonki, and Diego Leon all took part in pre-match preparations. With seven or eight first-team players unavailable, the youngsters are eager to seize more opportunities, and Jack Fletcher might be the biggest beneficiary.

Injuries to Bruno Fernandes, Mount, and Meno have opened the door for Jack Fletcher. If Amorim fails to bring in new midfielders during the January transfer window, Fletcher could see even more playing time in the second half of the season. Additionally, potential transfers of Meno and Zirkzee would create further opportunities.

Recently, Amorim stirred controversy with some remarks about Manchester United’s young players, upsetting some people. However, in recent matches, he has been making amends by giving more chances to youth players. Allegedly, Amorim consistently emphasizes that he won’t force young players to debut just to boost stats, nor does he expect them to be saviors during the club’s tough times. He wants to integrate youngsters into a team that genuinely empowers them rather than relying on them as rescuers. As his tactical ideas take shape, more young talents at Manchester United are expected to get involved in matches.