Former Manchester United winger Ben Thornley believes Ethan Galbraith can break into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first team next season.
The young midfielder was a surprised inclusion in United's squad for this month's Europa League campaign, though didn't get on the pitch for the semifinalists.
Thornley, in his role as a pundit for United's in-house TV channel MUTV, has seen plenty of Galbraith for the club's youth teams and Premier League 2 squad and has been impressed.
Indeed, Thornley is convinced Galbraith won his call-up from Solskjaer thanks to his form in Prem 2 action this season - a call he says that was thoroughly deserved.
In his regular column for Tribalfootball.com, Thornley declared: "Ethan Galbraith wasn't usually mentioned in those group of young guys coming through the academy over the last 12 to 18 months. It was Tahith Chong, Angel Gomes, Mason Greenwood, James Garner, Brandon Williams and Ethan Laird. But Ethan has turned in a number of good performances for the U23s this season.
"He's an industrious midfielder who has scored some very good goals this season and obviously that has caught the manager's eye. I know that Ole does go to as many U23 games that he can when they are playing in Manchester.
"Ethan thoroughly deserved his place in Germany, and although he didn't get any minutes on the pitch, he would have enjoyed being included in the squad and training with the first-team squad to see what sort of a level he needs to be at to get a first-team game, and that experience will be invaluable."
Capped at senior level by Northern Ireland, Galbraith joined United three years ago from Linfield.
And Thornley can see a first team chance opening up for the 19 year-old thanks to United's summer market work.
He explained: "Angel Gomes has left, Tahith Chong has gone away on loan, James Garner is expected to do the same, so there are little gaps appearing where Ethan Galbraith will be thinking he can start all U23 games and maybe win a place in the first-team squad heading forward.
"I think Ethan has the potential to get some experience in that first-team, he's very tidy on the ball and works extremely hard. Plus he throws goals in the equation, and goalscoring midfielders are worth their wait in gold. Overall, I think you can see how well the academy is doing and hopefully there will be more players like Mason and Brandon cementing their place over the next season."
Galbraith made his first team debut for United last season in the Europa League defeat to Astana.
