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Louis van Gaal was not in attendance at Leigh Sports Village and James Wilson must hope the Manchester United manager has an MUTV subscription.

For the umpteenth time at Under-21 level the prolific Wilson ridiculed his opponents, as he created the opener for James Weir and scored one in another productive half at reserve level.

The ease with which Wilson dominated Everton's dizzy youngsters, encapsulated by one turn which left right-back Gethin Jones with twisted blood, will alert more clubs from the Championship. Both Derby and Wolves have shown interest in the teenager, and former United players Gary Walsh and Mike Phelan, now coaches at Steve Bruce's Hull, were in attendance at Leigh. United, however, have indicated Wilson is 'not available'.

Wilson, 19, has watched Danny Welbeck, Radamel Falcao, Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez depart Old Trafford in the space of a year and is still, inexplicably, the fourth-choice striker. He has not made Van Gaal's matchday squad once this season, despite his encouraging cameos from the bench last term.

Ahead of the League Cup tie with Ipswich Town on Wednesday, Sam Johnstone and Jesse Lingard, two more academy products who toured with United in pre-season, also started on Monday night, while another, Andreas Pereira, watched on from the stands. Teenager Pereira can be forgiven for envisaging his name on the squad sheet for the third round tie, however his teammates might have to settle for the substitutes' bench.

United dominated a meek and inexperienced Everton side. Lingard lofted the ball over the crossbar from Sean Goss' delicate lob early on before Weir struck in the 15th minute, exchanging a slick one-two with Wilson, whose majestic flick was finished coolly by the Preston-born midfielder.

Moments later, Wilson got his customary goal. Latching onto a combative challenge from Josh Harrop midway inside Everton's half, the striker ran at a timid Everton defence and unleashed a low left-footed drive past the goalkeeper's outstretched right arm into the corner of the net.

Harrop was bullish but the 17-year-old Timothy Fosu-Mensah bustled about the midfield energetically and was, perhaps, United's outstanding performer. The Dutchman, as well as Rochdale lad and Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year, Axel Tuanzebe, were accomplished and confident, albeit against limited opponents, despite their inexperience.

Johnstone brilliantly denied David Henen's header shortly before the pause and was reliable parrying Ryan Ledson's curler in the second-half. By then, Lingard had dashed into the Everton area and curled calmly past Mateusz Hewelt to make it 3-0.

With the game won, there was an inevitable lull, as Weir wasted a one-on-one and Callum Dyson pounced at the far post to nod in a consolation.

Wilson wasted an inviting opening late on but looked unconcerned. He had made his point to Van Gaal, whether he was watching or not.

United: Johnstone, Varela, Tuanzebe, Love, Jackson, Goss, Fosu-Mensah (Redmond), Harrop, Weir, Lingard, Wilson