Five Manchester United youngsters hoping for their big chances in pre-season

Pre-season tours are the nature of modern football, and Manchester United have been trotting the globe for more than 15 years expanding their fanbase.

The matches can give vital playing time to younger members of the squad, Tom Cleverley, Danny Welbeck and Federico Macheda are three who have benefited in recent seasons, while for fans it will be the first chance to see new signing Shinji Kagawa in action.

With Euro 2012 still ongoing and players like Nani still involved, the senior members of United's squad will likely join up late, giving increased chances to members of the youth team.

Here are five who will be hoping to grasp their big opportunities if they are handed them...

Robbie Brady

Irish under-21 international Brady spent last season on loan at Hull City, and regularly impressed, featuring more than 40 times. The left-winger will hope to continue his progression next season and earn a loan to a Premier League club, and big performances in pre-season could help achieve that aim. The path to the first team could have it's challenges, but with Nani and Young likely to join the squad late due to Euro 2012 involvement the opportunity may be there for Brady, 20, to make a name for himself.

Nick Powell

United signed 18-year-old Powell for £4 million from Crewe Alexandra earlier this month, and they would be advised to throw him in at the deep end and let him show what he can do straight away. The attacker will be keen to show what he can do, and impress his new fans and manager and might just be the star of the pre-season tour. It will be a big jump up from Crewe, but the added talents of his new teammates might just allow him to flourish even further. 

David Petrucci

Italian midfielder Petrucci, 20, has suffered with injury since arriving at Old Trafford, and his game has evolved with it too. Thought of originally as more of an attacker, he played in the reserves last season in a more defensive role, and stated in an interview a couple of months back that he was looking forward to a chance in pre-season. With United's options in midfield low, this could be the chance for Petrucci to stake his claim, and after being included in the first team squad last season he is not far off.

Ryan Tunnicliffe

Midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe's season last year was a little underwhelming and he will be hoping to bounce back. He won the 2010/11 Academy player of the year award ahead of Paul Pogba and Ravel Morrison, but when loaned to Peterborough he enjoyed mixed success. He returned to Manchester early after an injury, but made it back to play a few late reserve games. He needs a big season this year and like Brady a good showing in pre-season could earn him a useful loan move where he will hope for better fortune. 

Michael Keane

Michael Keane, 19, is the twin-brother of Will Keane, the striker who would have been on this list but for suffering a cruciate knee injury this month. Keane is an England under-19 international and was awarded United's reserve player of the year award this season. He is expected to go out on loan this season, with Blackburn Rovers said to be interested, but not before heading out as part of United's pre-season squad. Keane is a centre-back, and there is big competition at United, but he will hope to follow the footsteps of Jonny Evans in breaking through. 

Which of these five will get and take their chance? Who else are you hoping to see?

image: © Nasmac