United wannabes get to strut their stuff
United are on Leeside for what is expected to be a sell-out friendly — following their 1-0 win over Longford Town on Monday night — before heading back to Manchester tomorrow morning, where more than half of the squad are expected to train with the remaining first team players that didn’t travel on the tour of South Africa and Asia.
Republic of Ireland U19 international Sean McGinty, who is going on loan to Oxford next month, is expected to feature in a team that also includes Brazilian duo Gladestony and Agnaldo, and highly-rated Norwegian Joshua King against Tommy Dunne’s Cork City side.
“You want people to be hungry, and some of the reserves are currently playing in the first team. It’s down to them how they do and perform and try to impress enough,” said Joyce.
“As we all know at this football club, if young lads are doing well, the manager isn’t afraid to put them in the first team and some of the lads in this squad are capable of making it.”
United’s youth team are also currently in Ireland, playing in the prestigious Milk Cup, but Joyce says playing against a senior team such as Cork will be much more beneficial for the players.
“Obviously a lot of them could be playing at the Milk Cup up the road but it is far better for them to play against men and be exposed to that.
“We had hoped to stay here a bit longer and it would have been nice to have had a training camp because the facilities here (Fota Island) are magnificent,” he added, “but we need to get back to England to train with the first team players that didn’t go on their own tour because of the Euros.”
A limited number of tickets will be available at the ground prior to the game, priced at €10 for adults and €5 for juveniles, though Cork City have warned people to arrive early as they expect the game to sell-out.
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