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Manchester United secured their first victory of the summer in Trondheim, Norway on Friday, cruising to a 5–0 win against local side Rosenborg.
Michael Carrick's squad kicked off their 2026–27 preparations last weekend with a narrow defeat to Wrexham in Helsinki, Finland. While some rustiness was expected in that outing, this was a considerably sharper display against a Rosenborg side that is actually mid-season due to the structure of Norway's domestic football calendar.
United controlled proceedings from the very first whistle, with Patrick Dorgu and Leny Yoro both rattling the woodwork either side of 19-year-old academy prospect Shea Lacey opening the scoring.
Joshua Zirkzee extended the advantage early in the second half with a moment of brilliant individual quality, before a wave of substitutions allowed a group of academy players to see out the game—Carrick held off the mass changes by 15 minutes compared to the Wrexham fixture, where they had come at the break.
Young centre-back Jacob Devaney hammered in a third from a corner almost immediately after entering the pitch, before substitute left back Harry Amass added a fourth by charging forward and connecting first time with a right-wing cross at the far post.
Right back Jaydan Kamason provided the assist for that goal, and then repeated the trick for Ethan Williams to make it five—a very similar low delivery to the far post, though with a more straightforward finish.
⚽️ Shea Lacey
⚽️ Jacob Devaney
⚽️ Harry Amass
⚽️ Ethan Williams
Four #MUAcademy prospects were on the scoresheet in Trondheim 🧬💙 pic.twitter.com/fguQ36ANTM
Joshua Zirkzee, Mason Mount Step Up
With numerous World Cup players still enjoying their summer break and Benjamin Šeško working on his fitness back in Manchester, this phase of preseason offers others in the squad a chance to impress Carrick and push for a meaningful role in the season ahead.
Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount seized that opportunity with conviction.
Zirkzee has struggled to find a clear role since his arrival from Bologna in 2024, with his 6'4" frame generating expectations that he should operate as a powerful centre forward. However, the Dutchman is far more nuanced and technically gifted than a traditional No. 9. He thrives when dropping deep to link play, which he showcased here with sharp vision and precise execution to tee up Lacey for the opener, threading a perfectly weighted vertical pass through the Rosenborg backline for the speedy teenager to chase.
His own goal was a delight to witness, selling a right-footed shot dummy twice to first unbalance a defender and then the goalkeeper, before calmly rolling the ball into an empty net.
Mount didn't contribute as directly to the scoreline during his hour on the pitch, but the attacking midfielder earned credit for his composure in possession and his tireless pressing without the ball.
Big Opportunities for Shea Lacey, Radek Vitek
While largely fielding the senior lineup that started against Wrexham, Carrick chose to hand starting berths to the aforementioned Lacey and goalkeeper Radek Vítek.
Lacey took his goal superbly, using his speed to stretch the defensive line. Even after latching onto Zirkzee's through ball, the youngster remained composed rather than rushing his effort, calmly guiding the finish into the bottom corner after shifting onto his left foot at the last second.
Between the posts, Vítek was given 72 minutes before Carrick turned to Dermot Mee. The Czech goalkeeper spent last season on loan at Bristol City and will likely require another temporary move—or possibly a permanent departure—before the transfer window shuts, following Karl Darlow's arrival this month.
"I'm ready to go somewhere again and hopefully be number one," he said last weekend.
Harry Amass Raises an Important Question
United ideally require a new left back this season to offer specialist backup for Luke Shaw, with Patrick Dorgu increasingly being used as a winger and Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui more naturally suited to the right flank.
Transfer market speculation has surfaced, but why couldn't Harry Amass fill that role?
Amass made headlines last season when former boss Ruben Amorim oddly suggested he was "struggling" during his loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday—a characterisation that didn't quite reflect reality. The former manager doubled down shortly after, making broader comments about perceived "entitlement" among young players.
Amass subsequently moved to Norwich City for the second half of the season but suffered an injury shortly after his debut, cutting his campaign short. The 19-year-old has returned to full fitness this summer, however, and his goal against Rosenborg was complemented by an assist—setting up Zirkzee's strike.
United don't need a short-term replacement for Luke Shaw, who finally shook off his long injury history last season, but rather cover and healthy competition. Amass is well placed to develop under the senior player and potentially emerge as his long-term successor.
JJ Gabriel 'Debut' Waits
JJ Gabriel didn't get the chance to step onto the pitch on this occasion, but the 15-year-old prodigy will still have gained invaluable experience simply from being part of the matchday squad.
With 12 outfield players among the substitutes, it was inevitable that some would not feature—18-year-old Jim Thwaites was the other player to miss out.
For Gabriel, the anticipation surrounding his unofficial "debut" continues to build.
Blue Away Kit Debuts
Unveiled earlier in the week, the match served as the first outing for United's new all-blue away strip.
Blue holds a storied place in the club's history, most memorably worn when Matt Busby's side claimed the 1968 European Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
It has remained a recurring secondary colour in the years since, most notably during United's dominant Champions League semifinal victory over Arsenal in 2008–09, and again when José Mourinho's squad claimed the Europa League trophy in 2016–17.
The new kit carries a strong retro aesthetic, driven largely by the classic adidas trefoil badge and design cues drawn from rare third shirts of the late 1980s.
It will be seen again when United face Atlético Madrid in Stockholm, Sweden, on Aug. 1—the most demanding preseason test yet to come.