James Scanlon made history for Gibraltar last weekend and the 17-year-old Man Utd youngster is becoming a key figure in their rise.
As James Scanlon peels away from the six-yard box a horde of red-shirted teammates sprint after him, but this isn't Manchester United. This is the Europa Point Stadium at the southern tip of Gibraltar and the 17-year-old Scanlon is heading towards the stand where most of the 681 spectators are seated.
The attacking midfielder joined United from Derby County in 2023 and signed his first professional contract at Old Trafford in May of this year. That was the start of a significant summer for the Midlands-born youngster, who has trained regularly with Erik ten Hag's first team and went on the club's pre-season tour of the United States.
Scanlon, whose younger brother Luca is also in the United system and on Gibraltar's radar, is described by a source close to him as a "very ambitious lad, he's a really mature and serious young man, he's got a mentality that's very well suited for elite-level football." Scanlon qualifies for Gibraltar through his mum, Gabriella Falero, a former athlete who was part of the team that set the national record for the 4*100m relay.
"His attitude has been exemplary," said a source within the Gibraltar FA. "Even the two games in March where he started on the bench and then came on, he was unbelievable, the way he's lapped it all up and how he's been around the team." The question now is whether Scanlon will be a part of that October squad. Under FIFA rules, players can switch eligibility providing they played no more than three senior competitive matches before turning 21.
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