A teenager is aiming to fire his way into the Premier League after working his way through the ranks at Manchester United.

North Muskhams Manni Norkett said he is enjoying his football and is committed to pursuing a career in the game.

The centre-forward is firing on all cylinders at Manchester United as he plays in their under-18s side, netting an impressive ten times so far this season.

Norkett has also played for the clubs reserve side and has trained with the Red Devils first team.

As a youngster, Norkett played for Collingham, Newark Town, and RHP Colts now he is at one of the biggest clubs in the world.

Last year, he was part of the Manchester United under-18 side that lifted the FA Youth Cup.

His chosen path is a lot for any young and ambitious footballer, let alone one who is only 18 and studying for his A-levels.

His life is a delicate balancing act between high-performance football, studying, and family life.

Norkett tries to get back to the area as regularly as he can to see his family who still live locally.

My parents are very excited and are happy that I am involved with Man United and this level of football, he said.

This doesnt happen all too often to a lot of people, and I am grateful for the opportunity.

Newark is an underrated area when it comes to football talent.

Norkett, who was born in Nottingham and grew up in North Muskham, catches up with mates when back home and can sometimes be seen training at Carl Greaves gym to maintain his fitness levels.

He approaches football with a holistic outlook Manni is realistic about the game understanding that the journey is paved with both challenges and potential wins.

The life comes with stressers and rewards, he said. When things are going good it is very rewarding, and likewise when things are going bad, it can be a struggle.

It is a heavy-laden lifestyle with a lot of sacrifices.

It also comes with a lot of perks, but there is a lot of pressure to do well, and a lot of this pressure I put on myself.

It is clear that he is constantly thinking about his progress, production, and ways he can evolve.

After five years at Manchester United, it is safe to say that Norkett has developed a routine that is working for him as he progresses along his journey.

Its hard to set goals way down the line because you can never predict where you are going to be, you have to stay realistic, he said.

It can be a real rollercoaster, you have your bad weeks and you have to deal with that.

When you have a good week you have to concentrate on maintaining it, and not get complacent.

While his football journey is key, Norkett is also receiving education and life skills training at Manchester United.

The programmes here follow a lot of different things around personal development, he said.

They dont just teach you to be a good footballer but they also try to shape you positively as a person.

You have to take it seriously and look after yourself, this is key.

It is definitely about more than just being a good footballer, you have to consider everything.

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