In his playing days, Darren Fletcher often made a compelling case at being Manchester United’s unsung hero.
With star players around him, headlines would often pass Fletcher by but his importance and influence was immense. Just ask any of his team-mates.
That is the case for his Under-18s’ team too, who are today preparing for the biggest game of their season as they face Manchester City in the FA Youth Cup final.
Where JJ Gabriel, crowned the best Under-18 player in the nation this week, and Chido Obi provide the star power, look to the likes of Yuel Helafu and Rafe McCormack when seeking out this group’s unsung heroes in Fletcher’s mould.
‘To be honest with you, at the start of the season my main goal was just to start as many games and play to the standard that I know I’m capable of,’ McCormack told Daily Mail Sport.
‘Same as Rafe, I didn’t expect much,’ Helafu added.
Yuel Helafu (right) spoke to Daily Mail Sport ahead of the FA Youth Cup final versus Man City
‘I just wanted to play as many 18s games as possible. But I think we both took our opportunities where we’ve been given them and we just excelled really, played a lot of 21s games, trained with the first team and yeah, it’s all going to help us in the long run.’
Those who only loosely follow the academy may not be too familiar with 17-year-old duo Helafu and McCormack, players who have had steep trajectories this season that saw them make their Under-21 debuts as well as get onto the radar of Michael Carrick and the first team group.
Helafu in particular, a right back who follows the modern trend of a full-back inverting into defensive midfield, has caught the eye and was recently rewarded with a place on the first team’s mid-season training camp in Ireland.
‘[Joshua] Zirkzee is very good with me, always very welcoming, very funny,’ Helafu explained.
‘[Lisandro] Martinez as well, because obviously he’s a defender so he gives me tips and given I’m not the biggest he gives me different tips to use when you’re marking someone bigger, someone with a physical advantage over you.
‘But everyone’s top, everyone’s very funny, very welcoming.’
This is McCormack and Helafu’s first interview with the media and naturally there are nerves – even if both take it firmly in their stride.
So, were those same nerves present when they got the nod to join the first team for training?
‘The first time I went I was really nervous,’ McCormack admitted.
‘But they are all really welcoming. Obviously their touch, the passing, the speed, everything’s different, but once you get used to it, it feels like, yeah, it feels fine.’
There has been a buzz around the first team in recent weeks about the Youth Cup, which will come to a conclusion on Thursday night across on the other side of Manchester.
No 1 Senne Lammens went to watch one of the earlier rounds while captain Bruno Fernandes is known to regularly stream the academy teams’ games when they are televised.
The first team are bought in, too, having spent countless hours around rising stars like McCormack and Helafu, far more than many may realise.
‘I think if if we have anything to say or we’re stuck on some things they’re all really nice,’ McCormack added.
‘I remember speaking to Mason Mount about passing through lines and he’s very helpful. He was very helpful to me and to give me his feedback on that.’
For Helafu it is Diogo Dalot, a player in his position, that he thinks falls into the unsung hero category with the first team and is a player he is learning off every time he steps up into that group.
Losing in the Under-18 Premier League Cup final serves as extra motivation in the Youth Cup
Mason Mount (left) and Diogo Dalot (right) have been great mentors to young players this year
‘I think he’s genuinely so good and he’s a great leader as well,’ Helafu said.
‘I remember there was one training session and I was in front of him and he was just talking me through the whole session, just making sure I’m pressing in the right way getting up to the ball, keeping the ball, everything.’
The importance of the FA Youth Cup is not lost on either youngster as we sit down in a room overlooking a revamped Carrington training centre.
McCormack has been on United’s books since he was eight years old having bounced around opportunities at Everton and Manchester City before choosing United, while Helafu was scouted at Under-10s after impressing in a game against United for his grassroots team.
Both also found themselves among the 67,000-strong crowd four years ago when United last won the most prestigious tournament in youth football and now there is an eagerness to write their own names into the history books.
United’s route to this final has had real moments of jeopardy, not least in the early rounds at home against Peterborough United and Derby County.
While they did escape the ignominy of an early exit to go all the way, Fletcher’s message on mindset has stuck with players.
‘Fletch told us that there’s no small game,’ McCormack said.
‘Whichever team is playing us it’s always a massive game and obviously, like you mentioned with the derby, obviously it adds a bit more pressure but I think we’ve just got to do what we’re capable of doing.’
‘I think it’s every team’s Cup final when they play against us,’ Helafu added. ‘We’ve got to use that to advantage and hopefully play with freedom and win the game.’
There is an inescapable feeling walking around Carrington in the lead up to the Youth Cup final that the crushing loss of the Under-18 Premier League Cup, losing in a penalty shootout, away to Crystal Palace has left a mark.
‘Obviously it was a disappointing loss, especially to lose on penalties, but I think since then it’s made us a stronger team,’ McCormack, a confident young man that is flourishing into a fine midfielder, added.
Rafe McCormack (right) is one of Darren Fletcher’s Under-18s that goes under the radar
‘I think we just have to take the learnings and take them into this final coming up.’
‘I think we’re just trying to use that pain that we felt to make sure that we don’t lose in this final,’ Helafu chimed in.
With individuals like Tom Heaton, Dalot, Michael Carrick and more offering tidbits of advice in recent weeks, there are plenty in the mould of unsung hero that know what it takes to play their part in helping a team to glory.
Helafu and McCormack have done that all season long… now they get the chance to step into the spotlight to show everyone just what they have been missing.
