Ethan Wheatley becomes 250th academy graduate to represent Manchester United

Manchester United's illustrious academy made more history in the Premier League clash with Sheffield United on Wednesday night when Ethan Wheatley became the 250th graduate to represent them at first-team level.

United have a proud history of utilising homegrown players in their senior set-up and have now reached an unprecedented milestone that have raised their standards to an even higher level.

Wheatley is the 250th graduate from the club's youth programme to play in the first team since Tom Manly became the first in 1931. It means that academy graduates now make up roughly half of all players ever to play for the club.

It marked a whirlwind 24 hours for teenager Wheatley, who scored twice on Tuesday night as United’s U18s had defeated Man City 2-1 to win the Premier League Cup.

Erik ten Hag named eight academy products in the United squad to face the Blades, with Scott McTominay, Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo, Omari Forson, Harry Amass, Habeeb Ogunneye, Louis Jackson and Wheatley all included.

For a player to be eligible for the list they must have joined the club before the age of 18, not made their senior debut prior to joining United and represented the club in a youth age group team.

United must beat Sheffield United on Wednesday night if they are to keep alive their faint hopes of Champions League qualification at the end of the season. Failure to do so and it will be mathematically impossible to achieve the feat.