Ryan Giggs: Youngsters must seize chance

The Dutchman has promised to give a number of the junior players opportunities on the pre-season tour to the United States as he is keen to re-establish the production line from the academy to the first team.

And Giggs, who is one of the most famous examples of that progression, has some words of advice for those travelling to America.

"Young players might come on tour thinking they'll not get many minutes but then suddenly there'll be an injury to a senior player," he told manutd.com

"The young player might then have a 10 or 15-minute cameo, play really well, get into the team for the next game and do really well again.

"So the tour is definitely an important stage for the young players to make their mark.

"I think you've seen a lot of players play well in pre-season and take that into the first part of the season.

"It's a massive thing as an individual to get the best out of yourself.

"If you can get off to a good start it gives you confidence so you definitely can't take the pre-season games lightly.

"Gone are the days when you'd play easy games - every match is tough."

With United expected to spend in excess of £150 million this summer, these comments may seem counter-intuitive. However, Louis van Gaal is known for his faith in youth. So, pre-season is an opportunity for a players to force their way into Van Gaal’s thoughts. Furthermore, a player like James Wilson could have a big season ahead of him – if United let Robin van Persie go as expected then Wilson could become a pivotal player next season.