Manchester United have an exciting bunch of youngsters on loan this season under the watchful eye of Jonny Evans, with the crown jewel of that crop arguably being Jack Moorhouse.
Jack Moorhouse, previously dubbed Paul Pogba 2.0 due to his immense ball-carrying ability from the middle of the park, is taking his first steps in senior football this season.
Man Utd sanctioned a loan exit to Leyton Orient in the third division under Richie Wellens, a former Utd graduate with a good record of developing youngsters.
Wellens made good on his reputation, giving Moorhouse his first minutes in senior football almost immediately upon arrival.
Photo by Annice Lyn/Manchester United via Getty ImagesJack Moorhouse’s Leyton Orient debut assessed
Orient finished in the playoff positions in League One last summer, and Wellens was credited with developing some impressive youngsters from PL clubs.
They kicked off their 2025/26 season with a daunting away trip to Huddersfield, a game in which Moorhouse started on the bench.
Orient lost 3-0, which wasn’t ideal, but Moorhouse was trusted to make the difference in the second half as he came on and played 25 minutes.
The Man Utd loanee immediately picked up the ball in the middle and ran with it, but was given a stark reminder of the physicality of professional football as he was brushed aside.
He grew into the game and adapted to the physical nature of the game by putting in some tackles of his own and intercepting one ball.
The trademark runs returned late on as Orient tried to claw one back, but this was a quintessential “welcome to men’s football” game for Moorhouse.
Moorhouse will be better after this experience
Even in just 25 minutes, Moorhouse impressed with every passing minute, starting casually, then waking up to the challenge facing him.
That would be of huge help to the player, who was dominating academy football without breaking a sweat, thereby hindering his development.
If Moorhouse manages to cope with the intense physicality of League One, it will stand him in good stead going forward and make his debut for Man Utd inch closer.
Orient face Wigan next on August 9, who, coincidentally, handed Ethan Wheatley’s Northampton their first loss in the first game of the season, with Wheatley putting in a good display.
Moorhouse will hope to do better there than he did against Huddersfield as he gets used to the tempo of men’s football.