On Saturday, Manchester United were handed another injury blow but for one teenager it could be a career-defining opportunity.
Erik ten Hag must be thinking he’s cursed at this point. As we approach the most important game of the season, the injury concerns simply won’t stop piling up.
Once more, it’s the defence which has been impacted by these injuries for Manchester United, and it’s gotten to the point that Harry Maguire is now the only senior centre-back who is fit for the FA Cup semi-final.
This comes as Willy Kambwala is now ruled out injured as Fabrizio Romano explained on Saturday evening.
Even then, Maguire himself had been a doubt for part of the week and missed training as a precaution.
So with this in mind, Maguire needs a partner to face Coventry, could this hand 18-year-old Louis Jackson his debut?
Ten Hag should hand Louis Jackson his debut vs Coventry
Teenage centre-half, Louis Jackson is the player that Ten Hag has chosen to include in the squad to face Coventry, replacing Kambwala.
But he should go a step further and name him in the starting line-up.
Jackson is a part of the wonderful U18 side which is fresh off winning their league title, so he’ll be full of confidence.
In the same report which revealed Kambwala’s absence, it was suggested that Casemiro had actually preliminarily been chosen to start next to Maguire, but this shouldn’t happen.
The thought of Maguire and Casemiro as a pair is frightening, as the lack of mobility could be a real issue for United.
So having the legs of Jackson in there instead would be a huge benefit, additionally, he’s a natural in the position.
There is however another reason Ten Hag should start him, as it could see history repeated.
Ten Hag could repeat Manchester United history by starting Jackson
If Jackson is started, it wouldn’t be the first time that he has come into the side on a few hour’s notice ahead of a huge cup game.
Back in 2022, ahead of the U18’s FA Youth Cup final, Jackson was drafted into the line-up as a 16-year-old after Tyler Fredricson fell ill on the day of the final.
Jackson came in and replaced him, and United won the trophy.
So Ten Hag could repeat history by trusting Jackson here ahead of Casemiro who could be even more of a risk than Jackson at centre-half.
There is a pretty compelling case for Jackson to start, and we’d love to see it as it’d be akin to the Marcus Rashford debut all those years ago amid an injury crisis.
Ten Hag needs to trust him and the youth, as it’s the only thing he’s got going for him, and thus far, they haven’t let him down.