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With three defenders injured and one suspended, the likelihood was Axel Tuanzebe would retain his place on the Manchester United bench against West Brom.

Instead, Louis van Gaal overlooked the Rochdale-raised 17-year-old and promoted another teenager.

A handful of star-struck fans waited at Old Trafford on Friday night to see Wayne Rooney, Bastian Schweinsteiger, David de Gea, and the rest of the United squad that boarded the team bus. One lad who could have been mistaken for a supporter was Cameron Borthwick-Jackson.

An ex-pupil at St Anthony's Catholic College in Urmston, where former pupils include Ravel Morrison and Tyler Blackett, Borthwick-Jackson, who checked in with his teammates at The Lowry yesterday evening, was a member of United's 2014 Milk Cup-winning squad in Northern Ireland and has earned his place in today's squad ahead of Tuanzebe on account of his versatility.

Both played in the midweek Uefa Youth League draw with CSKA Moscow, however Borthwick-Jackson is comfortable playing in two positions, whereas Tuanzebe is an out-and-out centre half.

A consistent performer who is rarely injured, the left-footed Borthwick-Jackson is adept at left-back and centre-back, however he has played solely in the latter role for the last 15 months.

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Borthwick-Jackson has not attracted great acclaim in United's junior teams partly due to the prominence of Tuanzebe, Callum Gribbin, Ro-Shaun Williams, and Timothy Fosu-Mensah. The rawer Angel Gomes is another youngster who is generating excitement among United's youth team almanacs.

"Cameron has been excellent really this season," United U21s coach Warren Joyce said. "He has gone from strength to strength."

So calm is Borthwick-Jackson on the ball his poise can be mistaken for a casual approach. He is defensively astute and is still improving, having represented England at Under-16 and Under-17 level.