The curious Tom Thorpe case at Manchester United is over after the 2011 FA Youth cup winning captain and Under 21s Premier League title-winning skipper was released by the Reds.

The 22-year-old Mancunian is leaving with impressive youth and reserves CVs but just one 89th-minute substitute against West Ham last September in his first team credit column.

For most regular watches of Warren Joyce’s United’s Under-21s Thorpe’s failure to breakthrough or be given an opportunity is a mystery.

While he appeared to have the background and pedigree to be ready for the next step he was overtaken by Tyler Blackett and the shock meteoric rise of Paddy McNair.

Manager Louis van Gaal’s history of promoting young players and promise to continue that at Old Trafford in line with the club’s traditions saw Blackett and McNair given senior chances last season.

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Fellow defender Thorpe, meanwhile, missed out and on the new contracts handed to his Under 21 colleagues in February.

There was no deal for Thorpe and now he has been given a free by the Reds.

But fellow Mancunian and former United defender Danny Higginbotham says it is not the end of the world for Thorpe.

“If you get to 22 and you haven’t made some kind of impression or impact then it is time to move on,” says Danny.

“You have to be very careful at a club like United. Timing is everything. Of course you don’t want to leave. I have seen players stick around until they are 23 or 24 but they have outstayed their welcome and then it is difficult to get a new club.

“I have watched United Under 21s as a co-commentator for MUTV and seen Tom and he has done well but for whatever reason the manager has preferred to promote Blackett and McNair.

"When players younger than you are getting chances then it is time to go.

“He might be puzzled just as I was when I left for derby County as a 21-year-old realising I wasn’t good enough for United but then seeing John O’Shea making his debut soon after.

"John hadn’t stood out to me as one who’d make it. I hadn’t seen it in him but look at the career he had at United and Sunderland. It happens. Players come from nowhere almost and some you think are certain to make the progress don’t.

“I have to say not many young players leave United and come back to haunt them.

"Maybe only Paul Pogba and Gerard Pique have done that. But there is nothing wrong in going with the attitude to prove them wrong but many have left to forge very good careers elsewhere. Tom Thorpe could be another."

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