Mason Greenwood is in the England U21 squad but could he be a regular in the Manchester United first-team too? That is the view of team-mates and former trainers who speak of a rare talent who is capable of making it writes Adam Bate.
Marcus Rashford calls him frightening. Luke Shaw calls him incredible. Senior players praise his maturity and his mindset. Supporters liken him. There is an area that is opened up for a new favorite to emerge, as the flops leave Manchester United and teenager Mason Greenwood fits the profile perfectly.
The academy grad is a bit special. You will find glimpses of this in his brief cameo in Southampton. Greenwood might have won a penalty had the referee spotted the kick he received from Stuart Armstrong on and forced a good save from Angus Gunn after showcasing a few of his stepovers.
A place is unlikely to be much away to get a player who scored over a goal a match for U23 sides and United’s U18. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has already trusted Greenwood off the seat that unforgettable March night at Paris and given him his own full Premier League debut on the final day of last season when he explained as the team’s”best player by a mile”.
However, it had been in pre-season that Greenwood really convinced Solskjaer he was ready. A target against Leeds helps but there was greater than that. There was the time he twisted and turned into on the Perth Glory defence inside out. While his drag-back because game made a fool out of the experienced Milan Skriniar That was his goal against Inter.
There’s a particular irony that the Italian team which has taken on Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku was impressed against by Greenwood. They are United’s last. Still 17, Greenwood is your near future. Maybe even the current. That it is seen by Solskjaer. “Mason’s pathway could have been far harder when we had another ahead ,” he said recently.
It seems certain that Greenwood may get his chance. The issue is how good he will become when he gets it. What sets him apart from the rest and will he fit into this United team? Neil Dewsnip was Greenwood’s trainer with all the England U18 squad last year and that he sees him as a person with the mindset and ability to succeed.
“He’s highly encouraged to be the very best he could possibly be that is always a huge advantage in a young player,” Dewsnip informs Sky Sports.
“In the England U18 group he played as an out-and-out centre-forward down the center and did quite well in that role but we used him in broad areas also, particularly on the right side of the area where he can cut in on his left foot and belt it quite nicely.
“He’s definitely got an eye for goal, therefore I’d agree with his manager that he can evaluate many different goals. He is fast, direct and may put in behind defences. He is also smart enough to combine with his team-mates. So he has an interesting package developing.”
If there’s not any club like United However, will he be in a position to put that package together? Who needed to go after playing his role over Paris Saint-Germain cope with all the pressure of needing to provide at the biggest club in the whole world? Will he be able to take care of all that?
“I believe he could,” adds Dewsnip. “Front players have a tendency to bring that together. They love to score goals. They are excited by that. I really don’t believe Old Trafford will fazes him. I believe it will be relished by him. The audience has started to develop a comprehension regarding him. It remains to be seen whether he could provide but I do not think he will be fazed by it.”
Speaking to one of the colleagues, it appears Greenwood does not have any motive to be fazed. As the name of Greenwood is cited where the walls are adorned by photos of graduates, Luke Shaw admits. He has been faced by the left-back . He knows what is awaiting Premier League defences.
“He is a really awesome player, an unbelievable talent and it is mad to think he is only 17,” Shaw informs Sky Sports. “There is much more to come out of him but there is so much he is doing right now. He is impressing each time he performs with and every time that he trains he would like to understand. Ole has enormous faith in him and so do the rest of us”
Both Lingard and Rashford have predicted Greenwood laid back and there’s a calmness to his game. He’s seen by both as a finisher – the thing that was remarkable he could do it with both feet taking fines along with his right foot that was supposedly weaker. He played at a deeper character in his younger days but was moved forward due to his finishing capability.
Much more than a poacher, he is a dribbler also with good speed – that his sister is on an athletic scholarship at Manchester Metropolitan University. Greenwood has organic gifts, blessed with strength as well as speed and ability. Even as a teenager, he has the upper body strength to hold his marker and switch the drama by simply hitting sweeping moves.
Manchester United prefer to keep a lid on these things as best they can, restricting his press activities given his tender age. However, the secret is out. The United supporters know it and it is known by his United team-mates as well. “We know what he is going to be bringing for the group quite shortly,” adds Shaw. “He just wants to keep his head down and work hard and also his ability will flourish.
“He can be among the finest on the planet.”
It is a few solace for United and high praise as their rivals continue to outperform them. There is a realization now that, even for a club of the resources, this can be hopeless although the urge over the last six seasons has been to spend their way back. There needs to be a plan. They will have to construct. And it’ll take some time.
They will need to rely in an academy graduate or two just as they always have. Scott McTominay proceeds to grow, embodying the spirit of hard work that each supporter would like to determine from their players. But Greenwood has the capacity to offer and much more to that. He is a participant with this piece of fantasy to his match. A participant who will make United believe .
“This team has energy, it’s got youth,” explained Gary Neville on a recent appearance on Monday Night Football. “I like it. It is not slow, but it’s not methodical, but it’s not dull. With a few great additions, they have a good chance of doing something, if it develops. It is not going to occur overnight but I’m happier with what United are.”
If Greenwood gets a run at the team, the Manchester United supporters will probably be even more happy. They may not have to wait.
Read more here: http://blackpresident.us/?p=61255
Loading ...