Ole looks forward to United front with Bruno
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER doesn’t want his forwards to rely on Bruno Fernandes for goals despite Manchester United being the highest scorers in the Premier League.
Fernandes has amassed 21 goals this season, including five in his last five, to mask some of the difficulties some of his teammates have had.
Anthony Martial has scored seven times compared with last season’s tally of 23, while Mason Greenwood’s total of four is well down on the 18 he netted in the previous campaign.
Though Marcus Rashford’s tally of 17 is satisfactory, the England star has only three in his last 14 games, when he was on the scoresheet in walkover wins against Southampton and Real Sociedad.
Ahead of today’s home game against Newcastle, Solskjaer hopes to see some of his attackers go on a run. ‘We are the highest scoring team in the Premier League,’ he said. ‘But Mason, Anthony and Marcus, the forwards who scored so many goals last season, haven’t hit those same numbers this time.
‘I’m looking at it as a positive because when they start scoring then we will be a much better outfit and our results will continue to improve.
‘They are getting closer, but it’s a case of finding better finishing. We do create lots of big chances. Scoring that first goal is important in any game.’
Edinson Cavani has seven goals in his debut campaign at Old Trafford and Solskjaer has been impressed enough with the Uruguayan’s contribution on and off the field to consider giving him an extra year.
‘ I haven’t been surprised by Edinson, just impressed,’ said Solskjaer about the 34-year-old.
‘I spoke to Ander Herrera and Diego Forlan and other players who know Edinson. Every single one of them sang his praises for his attitude and personality — and that’s exactly what we have seen.
‘There’s a spell early on in your career when you’re young and eager, then you enter a stage when you come to think you’re invincible. But then you get towards the end, and that’s when you really make the most of it.
‘Edinson isn’t going to let his career be cut short through any lack of desire, or determination, or lack of work. I’ve been really impressed with him.’