FORMER Manchester United academy prospect James Wilson has woken up unemployed after being released by Port Vale.

The 28-year-old forward came through the club’s academy while Sir Allex Ferguson was in charge.

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James Wilson scored twice on his Man Utd debut against Hull City in 2014Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

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The striker has now been released by Port Vale after suffering League One relegationCredit: Getty
He was then tipped by another ex Old Trafford boss Louis van Gaal as a potential replacement for both Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie.

That was after Ryan Giggs had already handed him his full debut as interim boss following David Moyes’ departure in 2014.

Wilson scored twice in that game against Hull City with Giggs saying: “He is a natural goalscorer but he has got more to his game than that.

“He can run at people, he has got pace and he is a clever player.”

Unfortunately, the ex-England U21 international did not live up to those expectations as he left the club after four goals in 20 appearances.

He had enjoyed loan spells at Brighton, Derby and Sheffield United, but it was Aberdeen who made it permanent to bring him to Scotland.

However, he struggled to discover his form after heading north of the border and failed to score in 16 games.

That led to him returning to Manchester to sign for Salford City, owned by Giggs and United’s Class of ‘92 stars, in January 2020.

Wilson found the net ten times for them, leading to Port Vale snapping him up in the summer of 2021 on a two-year contract.

He repaid that faith by helping them to promotion with a goal in their League Two play-off final win over Mansfield in 2022.

Ryan Giggs talks about former Man Utd striker James Wilson
But after netting just three goals last term, Vale announced that they had released him.

After failing to secure a new club, he returned to the Valiants for pre-season training and his performances earned him a new six-month contract.

Wilson scored on his first two starts but was sidelined in October with a calf injury.

He was given an extension to his package until the end of the season but suffered another injury in March.That ruled him out of action for Darren Moore’s side for the remainder of the campaign, with the club now revealing that he has been released along with several others following relegation to League Two.

Vale have also let Jayson Leutwiler and Gavin Massey depart.

Ex-Canada international goalkeeper Leutwiler, 35, joined on a one-year contract from Oldham Athletic last summer but has not made a single appearance in the third tier.

Winger Massey, 31, signed after Vale’s promotion, producing three goals and four assists in 81 league appearances, but is now on the lookout for a new team.