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Demi Mitchell has been tipped to become a top modern day full-back because he is ‘impossible to stop’, according to academy chief Nicky Butt .

The 20-year-old originally started life at Manchester United as a left winger, but has made a seamless transition to life at left-back since the turn of the year.

Mitchell particularly impressed in the Reds' crucial 3-1 win over Sunderland last week, and was a constant menace down the left flank at the Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground.

And Butt, who has been in caretaker charge of the Reds' reserves since November, has been impressed by how Mitchell has slotted in.

"It started out of necessity, if I’m honest, as we had no left-back when Cameron Borthwick-Jackson went out on loan," he told manutd.com .

"So we needed a replacement and decided Demi could do it. He has got blistering pace. He’s strong, brave, can take people on and can cross a ball.

"When he plays on the left wing, it doesn’t always happen for him as the space tightens up pretty quickly but I think, as a modern-day full-back or wing-back, Demi is perfect for that. He comes onto the game at pace and, once in full flight, he’s pretty impossible to stop.

"He just needs to develop the defensive side of it now with coaching. But he’s keen to learn, which is good. I think modern-day full-backs are really attacking players and, if you can get the defensive side right as well, you’ve got a serious defender on your hands.

"Both Demi and Matthew Olosunde [who has been playing right-back] are very attacking players and good on the eye. They have got to get better at defending one against one but that will come. They are pacey and exciting for fans to watch."

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