Manchester United named youngster James Weir on bench in Newcastle draw... but who is the 20-year-old midfielder?

James Weir became the latest player to get a taste of matchday action with Manchester United after he was named on the bench in their entertaining 3-3 draw with Newcastle. 

The 20-year-old midfielder travelled with Wayne Rooney and Co to St James' Park and was an unused substitute as Louis van Gaal's men were held by the hosts. 

But many were left wondering who the youngster is after he joined the likes of Memphis Depay and Juan Mata on the visitors bench.

James Weir was named on the Manchester United bench in their entertaining 3-3 draw with Newcastle

Preston-born Weir joined Wayne Rooney (right) and Co for United first-team training earlier this season

Weir begun his youth career at Preston, where he was born, before he joined the United academy in 2008, when Sir Alex Ferguson was still in charge of the club.

Since joining the Carrington academy, the attack-minded midfielder has progressed steadily through the youth team ranks.

During his time with the Under 18s team, Weir was often deployed as a full back and managed 11 starts during the 2011-12 campaign.

However, the next season the Preston-born playmaker nailed down a regular starting spot in his preferred midfield position and impressed under Paul McGuinness.

He eventually made the leap and was called up by Warren Joyce to United's Under 21s team where he has consistently played despite a number of injury lay-offs. 

Capped by England at various youth levels including the U19s, Weir managed 21 appearances during the 2014-15 title-winning U21s campaign, with 10 of those coming as a substitute.

Weir (pictured playing for the United Under 21s team this season) has scored three times in 10 U21s matches

Weir describes himself as a player who likes to attack and he is pictured here surging forward 

Speaking about the midfielder, Joyce once said: 'He needs a little bit more confidence but the lad is a clever footballer and he does finish well. He is clever when coming inside and he makes good runs that are hard to pick up. More often than not, he does finish too.'

However, it appears he has knuckled down this season and has been ever-present as the captain of Joyce's side this season, scoring three times in 10 appearances.

'The goal is to get in the first team,' said Weir in an interview with ManUtd.com in October.

Louis van Gaal gave the youngster a taste of matchday action but it remains to be seen if he'll play this season

'I try to do my best and impress Warren Joyce and the coaches plus the first-team staff in training. Hopefully, I can get there. I just try to do as well as I can by keep pushing and striving towards that first team. 

'I just want to get on their radar. You never know how things will work out – I look at Paddy [McNair], Willo [James Wilson], Andreas [Pereira] and Jesse [Lingard] and just hope I can do that too.'

'I've been mainly on the left this year but I can come in off the flank and play as a false winger, if you like, which is quite popular in the modern game.

'I can also still play as a central midfielder who can make runs forward and hopefully get back as well. I can play that narrow left-winger role and do a job for the team while also scoring some goals.' 

The 20-year-old midfielder has been ever-present as the captain of Warren Joyce's side this season