Chip off the old block! Super-sub Kai Rooney produces ice-cold finish for Man United U18s – and Sir Jim Ratcliffe watches on from the stands

Wayne Rooney‘s eldest son Kai was back on the scoresheet yet again as Manchester United‘s under-18s side snatched a 3-1 victory against West Ham. 

The win at Carrington means that the younger Rooney and his team-mates will face off with Crystal Palace in the Under-18s Premier League Cup final. 

Rooney’s son has been a vibrant presence for the United youth sides in recent weeks, last month netting four in one match as the under-16s romped to a 6-0 win against Norwich. 

The 16-year-old, on as an extra-time substitute, was ice-cold on Wednesday afternoon as he picked up a skidding pass halfway inside the opposition box. 

On the run, Kai misdirected the goalkeeper to slot past him and find the back of the net in extra time. 

Prodigal academy star JJ Gabriel had previously equalised to bring up extra time after the visitors netted early. 

The victory came under the watchful eye of Man United’s co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who made a rare appearance in the academy stands to see the youngsters play their way to the final. 

Ratcliffe is then thought to have flown to the North East, to take in the senior side’s Premier League test against Newcastle at St James’ Park. 

Kai is a regular in the under-16s side, but has been promoted throughout the season to add additional heft to Darren Fletcher’s squad. 

Like Gabriel, who has attracted a raft of headlines for his unique young talent, Kai is a player Man United are keen to hold onto, with the Sun reporting that he had been offered a £50,000-per-year scholarship deal by the club, alongside a ‘very strong’ group of 13 other youngsters.

His father and mother Coleen were most recently in attendance last week, when the under-18s beat Derby 6-1 at Carrington, with Rooney also in the stands when Kai made his Old Trafford debut this year. 

‘1 (goal emoji) – into the final (bicep curl emoji),’ Kai shared to his Instagram Stories after the result. 

But despite performing well in Man United colours, Kai has been keen to stress that he is not simply looking to emulate his famous father.

‘I’m my own person,’ he said in August. ‘I want to see how my career goes, obviously try to do the best I can and try to reach the biggest stages.

‘I’m just focusing on me and to try to not let any pressure get to me and just keep working on me day by day, month by month.’