MASON CAN BE BEST IN CLASS
Ole likens him to club greats
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer claims Manchester United young gun Mason Greenwood is one of the best finishers he has seen.
Solskjaer played with some of United’s great strikers, from Wayne Rooney to Ruud van Nistelrooy and Dwight Yorke to Andy Cole, and says the 17-year-old compares to them.
The United boss will hand the England Under-21 frontman only his second senior start against Astana in the Europa League tonight.
Solskjaer said: “You always need to be ready to take your chances and Mason’s one of the best finishers I’ve seen – and I’ve played with quite a few decent ones.
“He’s still very young but he’s maturing and he has developed so much in the last six months since I came in.
“I remember the kid, who just wanted to play with mates in the Under-18s. Now he’s knocking on the door, he’s ready to play these games. He’s been in the U21s with England, he’s tasting it more and more. His appetite for football is growing.
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on him. I want him to go out there, enjoy himself and work hard because when the ball lands at his feet, I know he’s going to score.”
Solskjaer says it is a risk blooding Greenwood so young but says it is the only way he will discover if he can cut it.
“It’s a process for them to grow as players and human beings,” said the Norwegian. “It’s about being robust enough to go out and perform at Old Trafford. If you don’t throw him in, you don’t know what you have got.”
Despite using the Europa League to give game time to young and fringe players, Solskjaer claims the club are treating it seriously because it is a route back into the Champions League.
“If you watched the Champions League last night or tonight, any player wants to get there,” he added. “I know we want to get there and the Europa League is a pathway. If we go on and win this, we’re in the Champions League.”
Centre-back Victor Lindelof, 25, has signed a new contract with Manchester United until 2024 with the option for a further year.
MAN UTD (probable): Romero; Dalot, Jones, Tuanzebe, Rojo; Garner, Fred; Lingard, Gomes, Chong; Greenwood.