LUND & CLEAR
JOHN LUNDSTRAM has never played against Manchester United before, but he’s not afraid of them.
The midfielder, 25, has been a shining light for Sheffield United on their return to the top flight.
And with confidence high he believes a shock could be on the cards today.
“I’ve never played them but we beat Arsenal so we have belief,” he said.
“We’re going into the game with lots of belief and lots of confidence. It will be a packed house at the Lane, so you never know what can happen.”
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER claims Harry Maguire’s scrap to the top makes him the perfect player for today’s bear-pit battle with Sheffield United.
Manchester United and England star Maguire might be the world’s most expensive defender at £80million but his route to the big time hasn’t been easy.
After starting out at the Blades academy he began climbing the ladder via Hull City, a loan spell at Wigan and two seasons at Leicester.
And with United facing a test of their character against Chris Wilder’s promoted side at
Bramall Lane today,
Solskjaer (right) is happy to put his trust in Maguire to stand up and be counted.
“The top academies are great but sometimes you see a different type of player coming through the other route,” said the United boss. “You can especially see many South Americans with a different mentality.
“One of the dangers with the top academies is everything is there for them. The young players don’t have to do anything so do we really prepare them for this man’s game?
“Look at Jamie Vardy. Sometimes players find their own way and make a career instead of being in the academy, where if the coaches put this session on and I didn’t do well it’s the coach’s fault and it’s the club’s fault.
“For me, 100 per cent, I was the same. I have come through the back door myself and I like players with a different type of mentality.”
Solskjaer had no hesitation in making Maguire captain when first-choice skipper Ashley Young was not playing.
“Harry has been different class on and off the pitch, as a leader but also as a good person.
“You can see players enjoy being in his company, they look up to him, not just because of his size but also the type of lad he is.
“Ashley is a natural leader in this group. He knows Manchester United, me and Michael Carrick and he knows the demands of being at United.
“He was a clear choice as captain. But if he wasn’t here, then Harry would have been a close choice.”
Injury to Scott McTominay has stripped Solskjaer of the emerging midfielder this afternoon.
But he believes the improving performances of £52m Fred is validation that United were right to