Kai Rooney's Man United U21 debut ends in defeat as Forest snatch late winner

Kai Rooney’s debut for Manchester United’s Under-21s ended in defeat on Friday, as Nottingham Forest snatched a 3-2 win via Shakur Samuels’ late winner at Loughborough University Stadium.

The 16-year-old son of United legend Wayne entered the Premier League 2 fixture as a second-half substitute in the 78th minute, with the scores level at 2-2. Rather than providing the decisive contribution he would have hoped for, Rooney watched Samuels net for Forest shortly after to hand United their first PL2 defeat of the campaign.

It was a sharp reversal of fortune for a side that had been in impressive form. United had won their opening three Premier League 2 matches — against Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Brentford — scoring 12 goals and conceding just three in the process.

The appearance came less than a week after Rooney made his debut for United’s Under-19s in the UEFA Youth League against Atletico Madrid in Madrid, a game the Reds also lost, 3-0. The rapid step up through age groups underlines the regard in which the academy holds him, having been promoted from the Under-16s last season and handed a scholarship — a full-time, two-year apprenticeship — in July. Reports suggest the deal is structured to convert into a three-year professional contract worth around £50,000 per year, with an annual signing-on fee.

Ahead of the Forest fixture, Rooney signalled his excitement on Instagram, posting a photo of his kit hanging in the changing room with the caption: “U21s vs Forest.”

His father Wayne, who made his own Premier League debut at 16 for Everton in 2002, has spoken carefully about his son’s prospects. Speaking to former United team-mate Gary Neville, he said: “[He has] my physique, but he’ll be taller than me and he’s a goalscorer, he’s in the box, he sniffs chances out and that’s his game, so he’s doing OK.”

When Neville pressed him on whether Kai was already at a level suggesting a professional future, Wayne was measured: “I think it’s too early, you never know. I think he’s showing potential and good signs.”