Man Utd: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer names his six-a-side team
For Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Mason Greenwood’s stunning form this season has been no surprise. The 18-year-old took his goal tally for the season to 13 in the club’s 3-0 Premier League win over Brighton on Tuesday night. And his stunning form this season proves Solskjaer was right to cut Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku loose.
Few outside of Manchester United had heard of Greenwood when he made his debut under Solskjaer last season.
But, now, the 18-year-old is on his way to becoming a household name having impressed for the Red Devils throughout the course of the campaign.
Against Brighton on Tuesday he was picked on the right wing ahead of Daniel James, despite being a natural striker.
And he posed Albion all sorts of problems on a fine night for the teenager, who scored the opening goal of the game with just 13 minutes on the clock.
Greenwood produced stepovers galore before scoring for United, cutting in on his deadly left foot to rifle a low drive past Mathew Ryan in the Brighton goal.
And he also got an assist, teeing up Bruno Fernandes for the Portugal international’s second goal of the night.
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Speaking after the game, Solskjaer was full of praise for Greenwood. He said: "The boys played some exceptional stuff.
"Mason's first goal was brilliant and he played fantastically. He's a special kid, we know when he gets faced up he looks dangerous. His link up play was great today.
"He's got a knack of that, he can go inside or outside, he is developing into a fine player.”
Now, nearly a year on from cutting Sanchez and Lukaku loose, Solskjaer is reaping the rewards of his brave transfer decision.
Jose Mourinho would have unlikely sold the pair. He always trusted Lukaku and also repeatedly tried to coax the best from Sanchez throughout his Old Trafford reign.
The Norwegian has been keen to abide by United traditions ever since replacing Mourinho as interim boss in December 2018. That means placing his faith in youth.
In Lukaku he inherited a striker widely considered one of the best the Premier League has to offer, with the Belgian shining at Everton previously.
But Solskjaer, seeing Greenwood shine at academy level, decided to cut him loose. Inter Milan paid £73m to sign Lukaku, money that was then used on securing the signature of Harry Maguire.
With Sanchez, the Norwegian appeared willing to give him a final chance.
But when the Chile international clashed with Greenwood in training, that forced his hand. It was the former Arsenal star who was cut loose in order to protect their young star’s development.
While Lukaku has been a hit at Inter, Sanchez has toiled at the San Siro.
Man Utd star Mason Greenwood was on target in Brighton win (Image: GETTY)
But Greenwood, despite his tentative years, has perhaps outperformed them both. Certainly he’s proven himself to be deserving of such big Solskjaer faith.
The sky is the limit for the youngster and while comparisons with Adnan Januzaj will likely be made, there’s no risk of that happening.
Greenwood is the real deal. Solskjaer knows it, United know it.
And if he continues at this rate he could go on to eclipse what both Lukaku and Sanchez have achieved throughout their careers.