Manchester United’s academy director Stephen Torpey has urged head coach Ruben Amorim to avoid selecting ‘token gesture’ players.

United have maintained a remarkable record of including an academy player in every first-team matchday squad since October 1937.

Amorim has committed to keeping the tradition alive but the incredible run, which has lasted over 4000 games, has come under pressure this season.

With Kobbie Mainoo missing United’s last game with a knock – a 2-2 draw against Tottenham – Amorim named Jack Fletcher on the bench instead.

‘We don’t want it to be a token gesture that we have players in our first team to keep a tradition going,’ United’s academy director Torpey told the BBC.

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