Manchester United might have uncovered a gem - and it's thanks to a new transfer strategy

For every bit of quality that Sekou Kone produced in a lively 41-minute cameo at the John Smith's Stadium, there was a counterbalance moment that reminded you that this is a teenager whose talent remains raw.

Kone is unlike pretty much every other player in the United academy. He doesn't speak English for a start and clearly didn't find it easy to communicate with his colleagues.

He has also been schooled in football in his homeland. United spent just over £1million to sign the 18-year-old Mali youth international from Guidars FC in August, and they have had to work hard on getting him ready for academy-level football since. The demands at United are very different from what he is used to.

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This EFL Trophy fixture at League One Huddersfield was Kone's first start in a United shirt after 19 minutes off the bench in Premier League 2 against Sunderland and the second half in the Youth League rout against FK Zalgris, and he didn't disappoint. But that he didn't even make it to half-time was because of that rawness, a heavy, casual touch 20 yards from goal that invited a fair but robust challenge from David Kasumu.

Kone went down in a heap and had to limp off. He is a tall teenager but not yet physically strong. He can spend time bulking up in the Carrington gym, by which point he might be able to ride out challenges such as that one.

United will hope he isn't out for too long. There is excitement about him inside and outside the club, and if his development follows the trajectory many hope, then he needs plenty of time on the grass. He has already trained with the first team.

The unusual nature of Kone's signing has whetted the appetite of supporters, with little footage available of him before his arrival. United described him as a "bold" signing at the time, and interim director of recruitment Christopher Vivell played a crucial role in it. Vivell, a former talent spotter for the Red Bull network, has a reputation for signing young players, and Kone is his first real roll of the dice at Old Trafford.

He was watched at the Under-17 World Cup in November 2023 by multiple members of United's recruitment staff. A scout then attended an Under-18 tournament in Morocco in April 2024 to watch him live, and the positive reports continued to flow in. When they decided to push ahead with his signing, Vivell played a prominent role.

It's his mixture of technical quality and physical ability that so excited United, and that was on show in Kone's first significant game against an EFL outfit with some experienced operators, especially in midfield. His technical composure was clear with some snappy passes to teammates. He can clearly take possession in congested areas, and his lengthy stride saw him race away from challenges when he did get on the ball.

He made a smart interception early in the game and transformed a defensive position into an attacking one with a run through the middle of the pitch that none of his opponents could stop. It helped Kone that he was alongside Tommy Rowe in midfield. The 36-year-old played 533 games in the EFL before returning to United's academy as a player-coach this summer. He stayed close to Kone and helped guide him around the pitch.

But there was a loose touch from a five-yard Tyrell Malacia pass when Kone took his eye off the ball, and he then slipped when in possession near halfway. The shake of the head from coach Travis Binnion showed the frustration with a player mixing two sides of his game.

Kone can be physical. There was a sliding tackle from long-range on Ben Wiles, then a late challenge on Rhys Healey. Finally, there was a loose touch that invited Kasumu in. It ended his night, but there were enough signs of promise there.

United have signed a talent with a high level of ability. Now they need to nurture it and edit out those moments when it all gets a little raw.