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Manchester United's youngsters are set to boost their air miles as the Reds step up their football education.

Youth team boss Kieran McKenna is putting in place plans to draw up a worldwide travel schedule for the Old Trafford kids that will be designed to boost their footballing talents and life skills.

Earlier this season he took a squad of youngsters to a training camp in Slovakia on a mini-break. During the time in the country United played local side MSK Zilina.

The young Reds won 4-1 with Tahith Chong amongst the scorers for McKenna's side.

The United youth coach said at the time: “The trip has been useful for a number of reasons - getting the lads together for a short time away, but also for allowing the coaching staff to take a look at some of the younger boys while they’re playing in great facilities against good opposition.”

United have been on the Slovakia trip before with senior striker Marcus Rashford among the young players enjoying the experience.

And Adnan Januzaj, who is out on loan at David Moyes' Sunderland for the season, scored on United's 2011 venture to the country.

In the New Year McKenna will head up a team flying to Germany for the Sparkasse & VGH Cup which starts on January 5.

The five-a-side tournament in Gottingen is designed to improve the young players' close control and play.

German internationals Manuel Neuer and Mesut Ozil played in the competition in their teens.

It is the first year United will participate and in their group the Reds youngsters will play FSV Mainz 05, Hamburger SV and Sparta Göttingen.

McKenna, who was appointed Under-18s boss in September, wants to develop United's programme having experienced the success of mini-tours at his previous club Spurs.

“Tottenham took their young players on a lot of tours, " McKenna told M.E.N. Sport. "They did it fantastically with their international tour programme.

“We travelled six or seven times a year with the youth team to different parts of the world.

"I went to Mexico, Vietnam, Malaysia and America a few times and we went on several tours in Europe as well.

“Something like the trip to Slovakia takes the players out of their normal training routine and environment. We went up to the mountains and gave them a different life experience. It is good because it is a mental refresher.

“The international programme can add value to young players it is something we are going to look to advance here at United over the next couple of years.”

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