Manchester United's rising star might have to abandon his Old Trafford dream

Harry Amass looked a tad frustrated at something before Manchester United's Under-21s played Altrincham last week. The youngster needed an arm placed around him as he returned to the dressing room to prepare for kick-off but subsequently delivered a strong performance.

Amass is probably more frustrated than he shows. The youngster played a prominent role in pre-season on the United States tour but hasn't been given his debut this season.

Without stating the obvious, making a debut for United is a landmark moment in a player's career and they aren't handed out willy-nilly, but Amass seemed likely to make his.

Amass excelled during the United States pre-season tour and travelled to Wembley for the Community Shield. Many expected him to make his debut against Manchester City in that game but he was left out of the squad and only had the opportunity to be around the team instead.

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The 17-year-old was included in six matchday squads in the Premier League at the back end of last season. With a promising pre-season under his belt and Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia still sidelined at the beginning of the new campaign, he seemed a prime candidate to make a debut in 2024/25.

However, Amass has been overlooked and the longer his wait for a debut goes on, it feels likelier it might not happen and there have been reports of Aston Villa being interested.

Considering Shaw and Malacia were unavailable, Amass would have seen the start of the season as the perfect chance to make his debut but he's continued to play for the U21s.

He was on the bench against West Ham and Chelsea in the Premier League, in the squads to face Fenerbahce and PAOK in the Europa League and was included in the squad to face Leicester in the Carabao Cup, but hasn't come close to getting onto the pitch to make his debut.

Something that could have irked Amass was when Toby Collyer started at left-back against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup and he was left out the squad - that might have dented his belief.

Amass watched from home as a midfielder played in his position and that seemed bizarre as former manager Erik ten Hag clearly rated him throughout the pre-season schedule.

United's youngsters have travelled to the Netherlands to face AZ Alkmaar and Amass is set to start in that game, meaning he won't be involved with the senior squad on Thursday.

Malacia is finally available and was on the bench against Ipswich, while Shaw made his first appearance in nine months and there is stiff competition at left-back again.

It's obvious what Amass will be thinking: why would hebe given a first-team debut now if he wasn't when the two senior left-backs were injured? It's not been a surprise to see reports linking Amass with a move away emerge but that doesn't mean his Old Trafford dream is over.

Amass can either knuckle down, continue to work hard and attempt to make his debut with United, or decide that a move away to another club would be better for his long-term career.

"My intention is to play first-team football at this club. I think if the opportunity comes, I’ve got to take it with both hands, it could change my career," said Amass in the summer.

The London-born lad signed his first professional contract with the club in March when he celebrated his 17th birthday and it will be fascinating to see how the situation develops.