Get the day's biggest United stories delivered straight to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Hopefully in years to come Axel Tuanzebe will be known for his defensive prowess in the Manchester United first-team rather than as the answer to a pub quiz question. A week before Cameron Borthwick-Jackson debuted and four months prior to Marcus Rashford's breakthrough, Tuanzebe became the first academy graduate to be promoted to the first-team squad in Louis van Gaal's final season.

Four of the 11 who honed their skills in the academy building at Carrington failed to make it off the bench last season and Tuanzebe was one of them. He suffered an injury a couple of months later but, despite a change of manager, was quickly name checked by Jose Mourinho.

"I don't know them [Tuanzebe and Tyrell Warren] well but I just trust Nicky Butt, [head of football development] John Murtough and the structure's judgement, when they say we have a few players who, in a couple of years, can be first-team players," Mourinho said.

He might know more about Tuanzebe now that he has trained with the first-team again and arrived with the squad for the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final vs Hull then made his debut against Wigan in the FA Cup.

Here’s everything you need to know about the young defender:

Name: Axel Tuanzebe

Birthplace: Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congo

Position: Centre-back (can play in defensive midfield)

Date of birth: November 14 1997

Height: 6ft 1ins

International honours: Represented England at Under-19 level.

Club career to date: Named on the bench for United's matches at Crystal Palace and Bournemouth last season.

Fun fact: Three of his classmates at St Cuthbert's in Rochdale have gone on to become professional footballers.

How does he play? His reading of the game is so sharp he rarely has to make sliding tackles, while his pace and athleticism often give him the edge over opponents. Tuanzebe has captained the youth teams but is a composed talker.

The Rochdale lad is capable of stepping up into defensive midfield, although RoShaun Williams could likelier forge a career there.

What they say about him

"It was the first time I'd picked a first-year scholar as captain. I don't think that has happened since Gary Neville was youth-team skipper. Axel did a very good job - on and off the field." Paul McGuinness, former United youth team coach

"He's a very, very good player. And is one of them that I really like because he has a strong personality." Les Kershaw, academy advisor

"He was a delightful young man, academically and sportingly.

"Axel was diligent and a really popular young man among his peers. We knew United had spotted him before he joined the school and he left at the end of Year 8 to move into Manchester, but he was quiet about his great achievements.

"He comes from a lovely family, still visits as often as he possibly can and sees his old P.E. teacher, Mr. Lockett." St Cuthbert's assistant head and P.E. teacher, Joanne Holt

"Axel still gets his haircut around the corner from the school, so he sometimes pops in at lunchtime for a chat. I last saw him about three weeks ago.

"Last season, he rang me up and was really excited because he had these free tickets for a United game, he was just delighted to have that privilege. So I went with his brother, Dimitri. It was lovely that he just wanted to give something back.

"I sent him a text after the Crystal Palace game and he responded a few hours later. He must have had hundreds!" Chris Hickman, sports co-ordinator at St John’s Roman Catholic Primary School