Man Utd head of academy Cox urges supporters: Young players will improve if you watch | OneFootball

Manchester United's head of academy Nick Cox has urged supporters to watch the club's youngsters this season.

United will meet Villarreal in the UEFA Youth League on Wednesday before an Under-23s clash against Liverpool on Saturday at Leigh Sports Village.

And Cox says the presence of supporters will benefit the improvement of United's young players.

"I can't stress enough the importance of supporters coming to watch the young players," Cox told MUTV. "I'm always quick to explain how our boys are not a first team and winning is not the only objective as development underpins everything.

"We should not look at our boys as a first team and it isn't about who has been picked this week or hasn't. It's not about that. We're slightly different to what you see with the first team but having supporters in the stadiums is absolutely fundamental to the development of our players.

"I hadn't realised how much we missed them until they returned. Those 2,000 fans at Leigh Sports Village, it makes all the difference for the boys to feel a bit of pressure, for the boys to be given a lift by the crowd, for the boys to have to play in the spotlight with supporters. It's amazing and helps pave the way for what it might feel like if they eventually go out to play at Old Trafford.

"It's important to thank all of the fans who do turn up. I was at Lincoln a few weeks ago, in the EFL Trophy, and, in the last 20 minutes, there were only a handful of fans, dedicated fans, but they were unbelievable. Just the simple act of the boys going to applaud the crowd at the end of the game was something they had never done before.

"So it's wonderful and thanks to the supporters for doing that. It's important we remind them that they are playing a part in the development of the next generation. They are creating the environment and it's an unbelievably important factor in helping us get to where we need to be. I hope to see them back many more times this season."