After a loan spell with Peterborough United last term, 19-year old Ryan Tunnicliffe featured in the DHL World Tour. Tunnicliffe was part of the FA Youth Cup winning side two years ago, he now thinks that if he continues to develop, he could find himself a regular in the first team.
Ryan has already found himself in dreamland this season, having completed two of his personal targets. Making his Manchester United debut, and playing alongside the Ginger Prince, Paul Scholes. He found himself on the score sheet upon his return to England when he opened the scoring in our 6-2 victory over Market Drayton.
In an interview with Inside United, he was asked whether departures of other members of the winning FA Youth Cup side have helped him break into the first team fold. He replied “with them gone, it does open it up for me in a way but, obviously, I was close to them. We were midfield partners and good friends. I was sad to see Paul go and I do think he was a great player and could have made it here as well. But another door opens and it goes both ways.”
He also acknowledged that the decision to let Park Ji-Sung leave the club has meant he finds himself up the pecking order. “There are not as many people,” he continued “But we’ve still got Larnell (Cole) and Jesse (Lingard), who are doing very well as well, and people who are younger than me and have got me looking over my shoulder as well as looking forward. There is a gap but I think there are still plenty of good players in the squad that I’ve got to get past to even get a few games this year.”
I honestly think Ryan can make it at United, he doesn’t mind doing the dirty work and he definitely has time on his side. The minutes he got on tour will only help his development. Hopefully the tour experience will spur him on to work even harder and maybe fight for a place in the first team squad at some point this upcoming season.
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