Former Manchester United triallist joins non-league Aldershot Town

Ex-Manchester United triallist Idris Kanu has left the club and joined National League side Aldershot Town. The 16-year-old spent a month at Old Trafford playing for the club's under-18 side but will not agree a permanent move to the north-west club, and instead will ply his trade in the fifth tier of English football.

Kanu made his professional debut for The Shots in the win over Solihull Moors on Saturday [8 October], making a four-minute cameo for Gary Waddock's side in a 2-0 win which sees the club sixth in the table after 15 matches. The English-born midfielder made 17 appearances for West Ham's youth side prior to his departure.

Those performances, which included two goals in an under-18 game against Liverpool, won him the chance to train with United where he impressed during his month at the club. He struck twice in the 5-1 win over Middlesbrough and looked on course to secure a permanent deal, but has now been moved on by the 20-time English league champions.

"We're fortunate to have signed a very talented player" Aldershot boss Waddock said of Kanu, according to the club's official website. "We need to make sure that we help him to realise his potential but we are planning for the future."

United have recently added a throng of youngsters to their academy with the likes of DJ Buffonge, Tahith Chong, Lee O'Connor, Nishan Burkart and Joshua Bohui all joining, while many of them have gone on to feature for Kieran McKenna's under-18s side. Head of academy Nicky Butt has spoken of his desire to ramp up the additions in order to improve the talent stream coming into the first team

"We're short on a few numbers in the different age groups and it's something we need to address," the former United midfielder said, according to the Manchester Evening News. "Something we are addressing and something we will hopefully get over the line in the next few weeks, in time for next season. It's the same as any other club. We all want to attract the best young players in Europe, at whatever age, and we're exactly the same. We want to attract the best players we can from all over Europe and bring them into what we feel is already a great set-up."