In the climate of modern football it is a dangerous habit to hype players as the next big thing, with most teenage starlets having all being compared to a world-class counterpart for simply playing in a similar position.
The pressure is turned up another notch when you're playing at an elite club, something which Manchester United coaches know all about as they look to nurture the latest batch of hopefuls dreaming of a chance in the first-team.
For many of those teenagers the chance might well come on Wednesday night when United face Young Boys in their Champions League dead-rubber fixture, with six youngsters added to the B-List on the eve of the match and registered to be involved should Ralf Rangnick see fit.
Sam Mather was one of those lucky few, though he started for United U19s on the right wing as they faced the Swiss side in the Youth League earlier in the day. His hopes of a first-team appearance will likely have to wait just that bit longer.
The omission of Zidane Iqbal, Charlie Savage, Shola Shoretire and Bjorn Hardley at Leigh Sports Village hinted at first-team involvement later on tonight, with Iqbal and Savage the leading candidates to earn a place on the bench for Rangnick's first-team, though Charlie Wellens will miss out.
It would have been easy for other youngsters to sulk given many of their close friends had spent the day at Carrington, being coached by Rangnick ahead of a first taste of senior stardom, and it was credit to 18-year-old Charlie McNeill he used the opportunity to showcase another side to his game which is rarely seen.
McNeill has forged his reputation at youth level as a lethal goalscorer, netting over 600 across all levels by this time last year, but it was his overall play that really caught the eye, first earning a corner out of nothing at the start of the half with a high-press which Rangnick would have endorsed himself.
United U19s went into the final group stage match against Young Boys in a privileged position after Villarreal's draw with Atalanta earlier in the day assured Neil Wood's side of top spot in Group F before the match had even kicked off, ensuring United will play in the final Youth League knockout tournament next year and not be subject to a play-off round first.
McNeill's early pressing game sparked confidence into the United side but minutes later Ondrej Mastny was forced into a great save from Aaron Appiah after Sam Murray had been muscled off the ball inside his own box.
With no real flow to the game United were soon dealt a huge blow when captain Marc Jurado went down in the box and needed treatment. A stretcher was called, but he was soon back on his feet as Habeeb Ogunneye came on to replace him for his first appearance at the age group.
The game remained a tight affair but soon momentum would turn when McNeill took it by the scruff of the neck, turning in the box expertly to beat a defender before lifting a cross to the back post which was almost met by Tyler Fredricson with a header.
Five minutes later and McNeill would get his assist. United countered from a Young Boys free-kick with the former Man City forward racing down the right wing before splitting the defence open with a perfect pass to tee-up Alejandro Garnacho for a simple finish.
There was a sense of deja vu only seconds later, McNeill once again turning creator as he cut open the Young Boys defence with a brilliant through ball which Garnacho saw blocked by the 'keeper. An encouraging sign of creativity from the youngster who is usually only praised for his scoring abilities.
Young Boys were fortunate to go in at the break only a goal down but soon the tables would turn as they came out fighting after the break, eager to play for pride having only taken a point from their previous five matches in the competition.
A good spell of dominance would soon be rewarded when they got a penalty after a long ball over the top carved open the United defence. Fredricson lost track of his man and brought him down in the box, substitute Jonathan De Donno was not so sloppy from the spot as his ferocious effort went beyond Mastny.
The Swiss side continued to attack but failed to make any of their opportunities count, they'd pay the price when United took a rare second-half opportunity to regain their lead.
This time it was Isak Hansen-Aaroen who turned provider, cutting open the Young Boys defence with a brilliant through pass before McNeill showed why he has such a goal scoring reputation, deftly lifting the ball beyond the on-rushing 'keeper to complete his performance in style.
As the rain lashed down he almost got another too, this time turning on a sixpence to control a cross in the box before dragging an effort wide of the far post with the 'keeper left stranded to his spot.
The teenage forward is not eligible to represent the senior side in Europe because he has not been at the club long enough to be registered on the B-List but right now he still has plenty of work to do at youth level before that can even become an issue.
His brilliant goal explained just why McNeill is known almost solely for his goal-scoring ability but at a timely point in his career he has shown a glimpse of what else he might have to offer.
