Shola Shoretire has long been an up-and-coming player at Manchester United but the youngster is no longer a talent under the radar.
Shoretire burst onto the scene at United, scoring a hat-trick for the Under-23 side over Blackburn, signing his first professional contract and being included in the first-team squad for the first time, all within the first few weeks of February 2021.
Alongside Alejandro Garnacho and Hannibal Mejbri , Shoretire is one of the most exciting talents on the fringes of Ralf Rangnick's side.
Here is all you need to know about him.
Name: Shola Shoretire
Age: 18
Date of birth: February 2, 2004
Position: Winger
Birthplace: Newcastle
Strongest foot: Right
Shirt number: 47
Shoretire has been with United since the age of 10, but he started his career at Newcastle United.
He was a member of the famous Wallsend Boys Club and the Magpies’ academy, while he also did extra sessions with former Newcastle academy coach David Ballantyne at Feet4Football on Tyneside.
"There's always one or two you just think 'Wow, yeah - he's got a real chance of being a player' and Shola was one of them," Ballantyne told Chronicle Live .
"I can count on one hand how many I've said that about. To me, Shola was like a young Micah Richards at seven and eight, he was athletic, so quick and just so strong.
"He was like a ready-made athlete. He was phenomenal and just so quick. That stood out - he just had that natural speed. But no one could get him off the ball as well, he had that strength, and he was light, quickness of feet, light on his feet."
Shoretire moved to Manchester when his parents were offered jobs in the city.
“I was initially frustrated that Newcastle lost out on one of their own, but it was a scenario that couldn't be helped with his parents being offered jobs down in the Manchester area which they had to take,” Clark wrote for Tribal Football . "Unfortunately there's nothing Newcastle could have done about that."
Shoretire initially joined Manchester City’s academy before switching to United at the age of 10. Since then his career has been on an upward trajectory.
At the age of just 14 he made history, becoming the youngest player ever to appear in the UEFA Youth League in December 2018.
Shoretire came off the bench for the final 15 minutes for United’s Under-19s as they came from behind to beat Valencia 2-1 in Spain.
According to United’s Under-23s manager Neil Wood, that situation was far from a one-off - Shoretire has been playing with older age groups his whole career.
"What impresses me the most is he is a very technical player,” Wood said in December. "Shola has always played up a year through his whole academy career. I can’t remember him ever playing his own age group. He has always been stretched.
“He is very mature for his age, the way he plays, he does a lot of work, takes a lot of positions up, and he has played a lot of roles. He’s played [Number] 9, he’s played left, he’s played on the right, he’s played 10 and whatever you ask him to do – on and off the ball – he is going to do it. You can trust him to do that job.”
Last season is when it all clicked into place for Shoretire, who scored six goals and registered three assists for the U23s in 14 appearances in Premier League 2.
His hat-trick for the U23s in their 6-4 win over Blackburn on February 5 attracted wider attention and led Wood to shower the youngster with praise.
“As the season has gone on you have seen his talent,” Wood said. “His work rate off the ball is excellent, he is the one chasing back and getting tight to people. You see the quality in his technique and his touches, he is comfortable receiving it in tight spaces, he can turn so quickly.
“It's tough for him. He’s just turned 17 and he’s playing against some older lads and he’s had to find a way of coping and he’s done that really well. Looking back to the first game to now he’s done brilliant with that, he’s a talent and he’s one you have to be patient with and don’t expect too much too soon and let him develop and keep working.
“I think he’s very mature for his age, he’s not one spot of bother. He plays for the team, he knows the role he’s got to do to improve himself and he works his socks off every day.
“Anything I ask him to do he’s no problem and he will do it so yeah, I do think he’s very mature beyond his years and I think that’s helped him to settle in to playing 23s football and he’s always played with older players anyway.”
Shoretire was soon promoted to the first-team set-up and is now regularly training with Rangnick’s side.
As Wood outlined, Shoretire can play across any of the attacking positions and the 18-year-old’s interview with the UMM YouTube channel offered some insight into his playing style.
Asked to pick a former player who inspires him, Shoretire replied: “Ronaldinho. He was so confident in himself and skilful - he had everything, I think.”
He also had some praise for Rashford: “The things that he does off the pitch and on the pitch - he’s just a good role model. I’ve seen him do it, so I can do it too.”
Shoretire also looks up to former England striker Michael Owen.
“I’ve spoken to him in person and it’s inspiring, because he made his debut at 16 and he was scoring goals for fun at 16,” he said. “It’s always good to hear from older players that have retired now that can help you.”
