I’m getting back into groove: Greenwood
MASON Greenwood believes he is getting back to the heights he scaled last season after signing a new and improved deal with boyhood club Manchester United.
The 19-year-old academy graduate enjoyed a stunning breakthrough campaign in 2019-20, with his 17-goal haul equalling the club record tally managed by a teenager in a single season.
Greenwood moved level with Wayne Rooney, George Best and Brian Kidd and went on to make his senior England debut in September, only to be sent home with Phil Foden for breaching coronavirus regulations.
The forward struggled to replicate last season’s impact in the months that followed, but boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said recently he had got “over his blip and he’s playing really, really well”.
Greenwood was this week rewarded for his progress by signing a new deal until 2025, with the option of a further year, and the teenager believes United will soon see the best of him again.
Asked if he believes he is getting back to his best, he said: “Yeah, 100 per cent. I feel like I’m getting back up to where I was last season. I’ve obviously been here since the age of seven and it’s the place I want to be and the team I want to play for, so hopefully I can get back up to the standards I was at last season.
“I’m working hard in training every day with all the coaches, so hopefully I’ll be back there soon.
“It’s just a challenge, really, after you’ve played for the first season. Not really many of the players know what you’re going to do. They don’t really analyse your performance and stuff.
“But obviously as a second season, teams try and catch up on it, so you really have to have a few more tricks up your sleeve and obviously do as much as you can to do the best you can.”
Greenwood has scored four goals in 29 appearances so far this term but is confident of substantially adding to that tally in the remaining months of the campaign.
The 19-year-old may well have a starting role in today’s Europa League round of 32 first leg against Real Sociedad given the absence of injured Edinson Cavani, who he is learning a lot from as well as drawing on the experience of 1999 treble hero Solskjaer.
“They both were amazing players,” Greenwood said. “Edi is still playing and is still an amazing player. It’s good to have both of them around in training on the finishing sessions.
“As I’ve been watching Edi, he’s a top striker, so watching his movements, the way he heads the ball, the way he gets into the right positions, it’s always a benefit to have a player like that.
“Ole to be my coach, it’s obviously good to listen to him and see what he has to say about finishing and stuff, so it’s all a positive to have them both there.”
Solskjaer has confirmed Paul Pogba will miss the rest of the month through injury, with Donny van de Beek and Cavani also sidelined for United’s match against Real Sociedad.
Having crashed out of the Champions League group stage, the Red Devils kick off their return to European football’s second-tier competition with a tough-looking double-header against the in-form La Liga side.
United are heading to Turin rather than San Sebastian for the first leg due to the impact of Covid-19 restrictions in Spain, but Old Trafford will still host the return fixture next week.
But Pogba, as expected, will not be stepping out on his old Juventus Stadium stomping ground due to a thigh issue picked up in the 3-3 draw with Everton on February 6.
“He’s recovering well, he’s starting the treatment,” United boss Solskjaer said. “It’ll still be a good few weeks, so he won’t be playing in February, that’s for sure. Still a few weeks until we see Paul, definitely.”