Mason
Greenwood
MANCHESTER UNITEDThe atmosphere in and around
Manchester United is always infinitely
lighter and more cheerful when top-
quality youngsters emerge from their
youth ranks, and they have certainly
unearthed a diamond in the attacking
18-year-old who has taken the Europa
League by storm this season.
With four goals in his five continental
outings, the Bradford-born striker has
been enjoying himself in the Premier
League too, good enough to start in
end-of-year wins over Tottenham
Hotspur and Newcastle United.
“Every time he plays, he scores,”EUROPA LEAGUE
says team-mate Juan Mata after seeing
the youngster get a brace in the 4-0
hammering of AZ. “In training he might
not touch the ball a lot, but he is a
finisher and a killer in the box. He’s
a nice kid and I’m very happy for him.”
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer,
no mean Old Trafford finisher himself,
agrees, stating: “I’ve probably said it all
before so it’s nothing new: this [scoring
goals] is what he does.
“Tomorrow he’ll score a few more in
training. He’s always done it. It comes
instinctively to him. The closer he getsto goal, the more dangerous he is.
Right foot, left foot, he is a nightmare
for defenders. He needs to develop his
heading. Then he’ll be a proper striker.
“There never was a question of him
going on loan. That decision was made
early on in pre-season or even towards
the end of last season. I knew we had a
top talent in him. There’s no better place
for him to be than here.”
Not only is Greenwood United’s most
prolific marksman in Europe this season,
he is also their youngest-ever scorer of
a double in UEFA club competition.
All in all, European football has proved
a happy hunting ground for the teen who
made his senior debut for United as a
late sub in the incredible 3-1 Champions
League win at Paris Saint-Germain last
year. It says much for his ability and
character that Solskjaer trusted himOnes to watch
Nick Bidwell selects the players
to look out for in the last 32
Deadly...four goals
in five Europa
League games“Every time he plays, he scores.
In training he might not touch the
ball a lot, but he is a finisher and a
killer in the box” Juan Mata