Adnan Januzaj and James Wilson star as Manchester United Under-21s thrash Manchester City

Manchester United took a step closer to sealing the Under-21s Premier League title with a 4-0 thrashing of neighbours Manchester City at Old Trafford.

Adnan Januzaj and James Wilson will have boosted their chances of featuring for Louis van Gaal's first team in the final two games of the season with a goal each, with Ashley Fletcher and Matty Willock also getting on the score sheet on Monday 12 May.

Warren Joyce's side are now within a point of the title which they can seal in their next game; the second part of a double-header against their cross city rivals.

Januzaj, who started his sixth consecutive match for the Under-21 ranks, produced the first piece of magic of the evening, sliding an incisive through ball for Wilson who coolly slotted past City goalkeeper Angus Gunn to give his side the lead.

Wilson, 19, who scored four against Patrick Vieira's City side in the Manchester Senior Cup earlier in this season, was making his return after a hamstring problem having also struggled with illness in recent weeks.

United doubled their lead early in the second half after Joe Rothwell fought his way upfield before picking out Januzaj, who jinked his way across goal before his shot found the back of the net via a slight deflection.

The Belgium international was replaced by Ashley Fletcher with 15 minutes of the match remaining and the striker wasted little time making an impact. Wilson burst down the inside left flank before teeing a weighed pass across goal for his strike partner, who found the back of the net with a smart finish.

Willock provided the best goal of the night soon after, stepping past his marker before curling a wonderful effort into the top corner from outside the penalty area, his first for the Under-21s.

Only Chelsea stand in United's way of sealing the league title but a point against City in their final game – the date of which is yet to be decided – will be enough to decide it.

"We have to concentrate on the next game as we play City again," Under-21 captain Tom Thorpe told MUTV. "It will be a difficult test but we're going there with confidence and we'll work hard this week."