In what were testing circumstances for all concerned, the club's Academy staff maintained strong links with the squads and the determination to remain as fit as ever was clear from both parties.
Even the news that the Premier League 2 and Under-18 seasons would be curtailed failed to sidetrack promising footballers who continue to aspire to hold down a place in United's first team.
Such preparation and commitment has already reaped dividends at a club where opportunities often arise, with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer calling James Garner and Teden Mengi into the first team's training sessions, and the pair both had a taste of match action in the recent behind-closed-doors friendly against West Brom.