It was a touch past the hour mark in Norway when Michael Carrick made the change.Eight young men on the cusp of first-team football entered the field at Lerkendal Stadion. These were players eager to push themselves into consideration for the senior team proper, or perhaps put themselves in the shop window for a possible move ahead of the 2026-27 season.Dan Armer, 18, Toby Collyer, 22, Jacob Devaney, 19, Jack Fletcher, 19, Tyler Fletcher, 19, Dan Gore, 21, Ethan Williams, 20, and Chido Obi Martin, 18, joined Shea Lacey, 19, Harry Amass, 19, and Jaydan Kamason, 19, on the pitch. All played with the kinds of intensity and verve that have become trademarks of young players associated with Manchester United. They combined excellently with a collection of recognisable first-team players to ride out 5-0 winners over a Rosenborg side that was partway through their league season.United’s first-half breakthrough came via Lacey in the 31st minute, who latched onto a through ball from Joshua Zirkzee before cutting inside his defender and finishing at the far post. He will hope to add to his senior team minutes throughout pre-season, and his defensive application should stand him in good stead.Zirkzee added a second before Devaney punished slack defending from a set-piece in the 63rd minute. He looks to be another multi-functional prospect; a midfielder happy enough to moonlight at centre-back and offer passing from deep. Amass would tap in a low cross from Kamason at the back post in the 72nd minute before Williams made it five in the 84th minute.It was of note that four of the five goalscorers — Lacey, who started, Devaney, Amass and Williams — came through the academy at United.After the win, Carrick said: “We’re pretty happy. The second half, the younger players coming on, I thought they were fantastic and played as a team really well and deserved what they got in the second half.”