Man United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea kids hoping to shine in FA Cup

The FA Cup third round weekend is traditionally one of the highlights of the English football calendar.

Those non-leaguers and EFL minnows who have battled their way through have the chance to write themselves into Cup folklore by taking a big name scalp.

But for some of the bigger clubs, it has become a convenient opportunity to rest key players following the hectic festive schedule.

The FA Cup third round takes place this weekend as the Premier League clubs get involved

That paves the way for up-and-coming talents to show what they can do on the big stage.

Sportsmail takes a look at 10 youngsters at Premier League clubs desperate for an opportunity this third round weekend.

Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)

Erik ten Hag is certainly keen to ensure the pathway from Manchester United’s academy to the first team is open and the Dutch coach has even taken over running the under-23 team.

The likes of Alejandro Garnacho have emerged this season as a result and one of the Argentine’s FA Youth Cup-winning team-mates from last season could be next in line.

17-year-old midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has twice been an unused substitute in the Premier League this season. Ten Hag selected him for the recent warm weather training camp in Spain and Mainoo actually scored in the friendly with Cadiz.

Man United’s young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo will be hoping to make his first-team debut

Ten Hag said the teenager was ‘making good progress’ when asked why Mainoo made the squad for last weekend’s 1-0 win at Wolves.

The youngster has caught the eye with his energy, ball-winning ability and pass selection in the middle of the park.

He has yet to make his first-team debut but perhaps that could come off the bench against Everton on Friday night.

Amario Cozier-Duberry (Arsenal)

With a five-point advantage to preserve at the top of the Premier League table, you’d forgive Mikel Arteta for rotating his squad for Monday night’s tie at League One Oxford.

One of those academy prospects hoping for minutes is 17-year-old winger Amario Cozier-Duberry, who enjoyed a decent cameo in the recent friendly with Juventus having impressed at the Dubai training camp.

Amario Cozier-Duberry, seen celebrating a Youth Cup goal, has drawn comparisons with Saka

The England under-18 international was an unused substitute when Arsenal played FC Zurich in the Europa League group stage and it seems a senior debut is just a matter of time.

Cozier-Duberry has drawn comparisons to a certain Bukayo Saka because of his willingness to run directly at opponents and blistering speed.

Bobby Clark (Liverpool)

17-year-old forward Clark isn’t entirely new to Liverpool fans because he made his Premier League debut off the bench in the 9-0 demolition of Bournemouth earlier in the season.

Jurgen Klopp then handed him a full debut against Derby in the Carabao Cup. Intriguingly, Clark trained with the Liverpool first team group this week, a hint he may get another chance to impress against Wolves on Saturday night.

Liverpool’s Bobby Clark played against Derby in the Carabao Cup and will hope for more action

While £44million new boy Cody Gakpo is poised to make his debut, Liverpool remain light on attacking options because of injuries.

As we’ve seen of late with defender Stefan Bajcetic’s involvement, Klopp isn’t afraid to throw in academy players.

Clark, an England under-18 player, has long had a buzz around him, ever since he was in Newcastle’s academy before signing for Liverpool in 2021.

Bashir Humphreys (Chelsea)

Chelsea have been struck by an injury crisis, with 10 first-team players now sidelined. It’s hardly the ideal time to be drawn away to Manchester City in the Cup.

Graham Potter may well have wanted to include some younger players anyway but, after Thursday night’s bruising encounter with City in the league, he probably doesn’t have much choice now.

Bashir Humphreys (on ball) may get a Chelsea chance with their injuries mounting up

The likes of Lewis Hall and Omari Hutchinson did get on the field at Stamford Bridge, but 19-year-old defender Bashir Humphreys wasn’t called upon in the end.

He is highly likely to keep his place in the squad for Sunday, however, and could be in line for a senior debut having captained Chelsea’s under-23 side this season.

A versatile player who’d also slotted in at full-back and defensive midfield, Humphreys is comfortable in a back three or four and assured with the ball at his feet.

Making your debut against City would certainly be the ultimate test.

Shea Charles (Manchester City)

Pep Guardiola may go in for the kill against a weakened Chelsea or he may opt to rest a few stars as they hunt down Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

If he does rotate, perhaps Northern Ireland international defender Shea Charles, 19, will get on for his City debut.

Charles, who stands an imposing 6ft 2in tall, has been in and around first-team training since last season, with Guardiola expressing his ‘delight’ at the youngster’s development back in May.

Shea Charles in action for Manchester City in their recent friendly match against Girona

Eligible to play for the country through his mother, Northern Ireland have wasted little time in integrating Charles into their set-up.

Ian Baraclough first called him up back in May and Charles won his first cap against Greece in the UEFA Nations League. He has since played three more times.

Harvey White (Tottenham)

It was certainly a special night for 21-year-old midfielder Harvey White when Tottenham thrashed Crystal Palace 4-0 on Wednesday.

He made his Premier League debut when replacing Ivan Perisic in the 86th minute and his team-mates all signed his shirt as a souvenir.

Harvey White was delighted to make his Premier League debut for Tottenham this week

White’s team-mates signed his shirt to congratulate him on his Premier League debut

Now White will be desperate for more first-team action as he comes up against former club Portsmouth in the FA Cup on Saturday.

He spent the second half of the 2020-21 season on loan at Fratton Park, playing 22 times, and was named among the substitutes several times last season without getting on.

Now White has made that breakthrough into Antonio Conte’s team and he’d love to kick start a Spurs march to Wembley at his old team’s expense.

Elliot Anderson (Newcastle)

Not a new name to Newcastle fans because he’s featured in eight Premier League games off the bench and also started Carabao Cup ties against Tranmere and Crystal Palace.

Nonetheless, this weekend could be significant for Elliot Anderson, a 20-year-old attacking midfielder, because he’s reportedly being closely monitored by a number of Championship clubs seeking a loan deal this month.

Elliot Anderson has been a regular presence in Newcastle’s first-team squad this season

Saturday night’s trip to League One Sheffield Wednesday could provide a decent opportunity for Anderson to show what he can do, especially with the game live on BBC One.

And who knows, if he does particularly well, Eddie Howe might decide to keep hold of him as Newcastle chase a top four Premier League finish.

Anderson, who scored the goal that won Bristol Rovers promotion into League One during a loan there last season, was compared to Diego Maradona by Gas manager Joey Barton.

Arjan Raikhy (Aston Villa)

Aston Villa have been handed a favourable draw against League Two Stevenage in the third round, offering Unai Emery a clear opportunity to rest a few key players.

Perhaps that’ll offer a chance to 20-year-old Arjan Raikhy, a rare player of Punjabi Sikh descent in the English game.

He was part of that Villa side that played at this stage of the FA Cup against Liverpool two years ago when the first-team squad was stuck down with Covid.

Arjan Raikhy (right) plays for Aston Villa against Chelsea in last month’s friendly in Abu Dhabi

Since then, Raikhy has been waiting for another chance though he has gained experience out on loan at then-National League clubs Stockport and Grimsby last season.

It may or may not be a coincidence that both sides went on to win promotion to League Two.

Raikhy was part of the Villa party that spent the World Cup at a training camp in the UAE, playing in friendlies against Chelsea and Brighton.

Sure this is the perfect chance for him to get some more competitive football under his belt?

Julio Enciso (Brighton)

A very long trip for Brighton on Saturday as they head to in-form Championship promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough for their third-round tie.

Roberto De Zerbi will surely ring the changes after a busy resumption to the Premier League and Paraguayan forward Julio Enciso, 19, is one of several hoping for some action.

Paraguayan Julio Enciso will be hopeful of more game time as Brighton head to Middlesbrough

Very highly regarded in his home country and already with nine international appearances to his name, Enciso cost Brighton £9.5million, plus potential add-ons, when they signed him from Libertad last summer.

Remarkably, Enciso was only 15 when he made his debut in Paraguayan football.

He has featured in six games for Brighton so far, including three in the Carabao Cup, so surely the FA Cup will also offer chances?

Sammy Braybrooke (Leicester)

‘He looks like Modric and plays like Iniesta,’ was one recent description of Leicester’s 18-year-old Sammy Braybrooke. No pressure, kid!

The midfielder is evidently a leader, too, having captained England’s under-19 side and also Leicester’s youth team.

Sammy Braybrooke (right) will be hoping to be involved as Leicester head to Gillingham

Brendan Rodgers has described Braybrooke as ‘an outstanding player’ and Leicester tied him down to a new contract back in February.

The next step was to make his professional debut and that came against Newport County in the Carabao Cup earlier this season.

With the Foxes heading to League Two Gillingham in the Cup on Saturday, Braybrooke and some other of Leicester’s youngsters could well get another opportunity.