Inside Man Utd's FA Youth Cup win - Pogba, Morrison and forgotten talents

The success enjoyed by Paul Pogba, Ravel Morrison and co on May 23 2011 remains Manchester United 's last FA Youth Cup victory.

The Red Devils, famed for their academy products and willingness to promote youth into the first team, have been unable to challenge for the age grade competition, which has recently being dominated by Chelsea. Then again, they haven't had the luxury of a World Cup winner in their ranks for some time.

United comfortably saw off Sheffield United across the two-legs 11 years ago, winning 4-1 at Old Trafford to complete a 6-3 aggregate win. A look back at the starting XI that night highlights the quality that United could boast. West Brom's Sam Johnstone, now capped by England in goal. Portsmouth's Ryan Tunnicliffe in midfield alongside Pogba with that generation's lost talent, Ravel Morrison, pulling the strings alongside Jesse Lingard. Tom Thorpe captained the side, but has seemingly slipped off the radar since.

Sean McGinty, now plying his trade north of the border with Ayr United, played at left-back that night having broken into the team midway through the competition. Amid all the euphoria that came at full-time the defender, now back in his favoured centre-half role, claims it was hard to fathom United would still be experiencing a drought in the competition.

He told Mirror Football: "We had a fantastic team, I didn't play in the first few rounds - the final was unbelievable. At Bramall Lane it was the first full crowd I'd played in front of, I think it was 30,000.

"Then to come back to Old Trafford and win so comfortably, it was a special night. For Man Utd not to have done it since is pretty amazing. At the time you didn't think it was such a big thing, looking back now it was quite a big achievement."

United beat Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle United en route to the final. Morrison would score twice in the 4-1 final win and his star was tipped to shine brightest with first team exposure furthering his reputation at Carrington.

McGinty claimed: "He was brilliant. He's had his problems over the years and probably hasn't reached where he should've been. I think at the time he was the best player throughout all the teams. He'd go into first team training and stand out."

Morrison has previously been hailed by the likes of Rio Ferdinand. He left Old Trafford for West Ham in 2012 after Sir Alex Ferguson claimed he "needs to get away from Manchester and start a new life". Morrison quickly showed his quality before a steep decline has seen him become a journeyman player. Since 2014, he's represented nine clubs, eventually ending up at Derby County.

As a teenager, with his stock so high, his skill was such an asset to fall back on that doing the extras wasn't necessary in the way it is as a professional. Morrison played for the Three Lions throughout the youth ranks, but never made a senior appearance leading to a case of what might've been. McGinty suggested: "Maybe his lack of work rate, his talent just outshone on that. He could've gone on to be one of England's best players."

Will Keane led the line for United's aspiring young outfit, but his efforts would only result in three first team appearances. Spells on the sidelines have blighted his career. Now at Wigan Athletic, McGinty believes his former teammate had it in him to be playing regularly in the top flight.

He said: "Will Keane was a joke - in training he'd score a barrel load of goals. He had a bad injury which has halted him but he was our main striker. You'd look at him and think he should be playing in the Prem week in, week out. He's very similar to Bamford with the way he plays."

Jesse Lingard also starred in the cup winning side and has gone on to make as many appearances as anyone who featured in that team. Joint with him on 229 games is Paul Pogba, for so long the one who got away as a dispute over a new contract saw him leave for Juventus in 2012. Silverware and global acclaim followed before United bit the bullet and spent a club record £89m to bring him back in 2016.

As a teenager he stood out after arriving from Le Havre, but was still seen as Morrison's supporting act. McGinty said: "He came in you just looked at him and he was massive. He was only 16 but he looked like a man. Early on you could see his quality. Natural ability Ravel was ahead, but Pogba's work ethic saw him grow and grow."

Pogba may well leave United this summer for nothing with his contract due to expire. The consensus is that United haven't had a return on their investment, which is as much down to them as it is to the player.

Six seasons in and several coaches have tried and failed to find a system and a position that allows the Frenchman to replicate the form he showed in Italy. As a youngster he was deployed in a two, alongside Tunnicliffe, with McGinty insisting the pair were as good as anyone they came up against and backs Pogba to still do a job in that role.

He said: "He was in a two. It was him at Ryan Tunnicliffe in midfield. So they played as two together and there was no one better than those two. Tunnicliffe would sit and Pogba would drive forward and I'd say personally him in a two is better than anyone."

Pogba's public flirtation with the likes of Juventus and Real Madrid has seen him cop criticism. The Frenchman, himself a World Cup winner, hit the lights of stardom very young and, despite the varying opinions, his former youth teammate praised the way he handled his rapid rise.

McGinty said: "I think Pogba's attitude has always been brilliant. He's obviously had a lot very quickly. Became very high profile very quickly. I think to start with he dealt with it very well, but I think people probably expected more of him when he came back to Manchester."

As with any successful young side players' careers don't all enjoy the same trajectory or take the same path. Whilst some are playing in the Champions League others have dropped down into non-league. Larnell Cole, who came on as a substitute in the Youth Cup Final, made one senior appearance in a League Cup win over Leeds in 2011. A spell at Fulham followed before he eventually landed outside the Football League.

Cole turned 29 in March with McGinty citing him as a player who could have - and should have - enjoyed greater acclaim. He said: "He was fantastic. He used to play off the right or the left. His feet were so quick. He went to Fulham, played a few games but has dropped down the leagues, but he is one I think could've had a very good career."

Whilst the members of United's last FA Youth Cup winners have had varying degrees of success, the fact the wait goes on to replicate their achievements underlines the magnitude of their triumph.