WHILE Marcus Rashford continues to dominate attention at Old Trafford, another United youth is making Wembley his favourite home-from-home.

Ashley Fletcher completed a stunning loan spell at Barnsley with the opening goal in their 3-1 play-off final win against Millwall on Sunday, an emphatic victory that sealed a return to Championship football for the Yorkshire club.

Just two minutes in he found the bottom corner of the goal, and they never looked back, sealing a return to the Championship. It was the former Canon Slade pupil's ninth for the Tykes and his fourth in five games. It was also his second in finals held at Wembley Stadium, following his strike in Barnsley's previous visit to the arches, April's 3-2 victory over Oxford in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final.

Perhaps the only thing missing as Fletcher made his mark in front of millions of viewers was his family. But, as dad Mike explains, they were supporting from afar, as they had been unable to change their travel plans.

"We were gutted when we realised we would be away for the final," he told The Bolton News from their holiday in Barcelona. "It was booked before Christmas and we tried to change the dates but we couldn't.

"We managed to watch it from here though, we were all jumping up and down when Ashley scored, especially his brother Elliott and sister Melissa, they are his biggest fans. We've all been Barnsley fans for the last few months, even though we'd never heard of them until he went there!

"He probably hasn't scored any more important goals than that one, although he did score in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final a few weeks ago so I think Wembley must be a ground he likes."

As a five-year-old he was signed by United and stayed on the books until his release at the age of nine. Three years with Wanderers' set-up followed before United re-signed the striker, by then on the verge of becoming a teenager.

But it has been in South Yorkshire where he has made his mark, and he now looks set to challenge for some top-flight action.

Barnsley had been bottom of the League One table in November and after the 20-year-old had been drafted in on loan by Lee Johnson in January, the manager left Oakwell for Bristol City the following month.

With Fletcher contributing nine goals in 27 outings Barnsley, led by caretaker boss Paul Heckingbottom, engineered a remarkable recovery, losing just three times in the second half of the season to finish sixth in the table and they booked their second Wembley visit of the season with a 6-1 aggregate win against Walsall in the semi-finals.

And after his impact in the lower leagues over the last few months, Mike is hoping his son's return to United will see incoming manager Jose Mourinho go against his normal approach and give youth a chance, especially given the start Rashford – Fletcher's England u20 squad room-mate – has had to his career in the last few months.

"He will have learned a lot and grown up a lot after his time with Barnsley," said the proudest dad around. "He has done brilliantly for them and I know they want him to stay.

"As for what happens this summer he's going to go away before he reports back at United for pre-season.

"He has a pre-season programme for his fitness, but he keeps himself in shape naturally, and I know he'll be working hard.

"He's always listened to what his coaches have told him and worked really hard on his game. He has put in so many extra hours after training when the others have gone home and he's getting his just rewards.

"Hopefully he will figure in Jose Mourinho's plans, because he is desperate to play at the highest possible level. If not he'll probably be sent out on loan again. Would that be to Bolton? Yeah, I don't see why not, it is possible."

With two Wembley goals already under his belt, there seems little that isn't possible for Bolton's next budding superstar.