Ole says Williams is example to everyone
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer says Brandon Williams is giving United competition at left-back amid more injury woe for Luke Shaw.
Williams, 19, kept his place in the starting XI against Norwich City ahead of Shaw and won a penalty in the second half that allowed Marcus Rashford to double United’s advantage.
Shaw returned to the matchday squad as a substitute but withdrew after he suffered a hamstring strain in the warm-up. Fellow Reds leftback Ashley Young was absent altogether with an unspecified injury.
Young, 34, is angling to leave for Inter Milan this month, having agreed a pre-contract with the Italian club in principle, and Shaw has already spent three months out with a hamstring injury. Shaw turns 25 in July and his failure to kick on since signing a new contract 15 months ago has let Williams in to effectively replace him in the first-team.
“We want to get to a place where players understand that if they play well they will keep their place and if they don’t there’s competition behind us,” Solskjaer said. “And we’ve got good competition there now.
“Brandon’s never ever let us down and another excellent performance by him. [He’s] definitely a lesson for everyone who wants to be a professional footballer; the attitude he’s showing.
“And it’ll be up to him, me and the club to keep him that hunger. But I don’t expect him to change, he’s got the heart for it and when you have it you have it.”
Marcus Rashford is a goal shy of hitting the 20-goal mark for the first time in a single season after his brace in the 4-0 stroll against Norwich. The 22-year-old came off as a precaution in the second-half and Solskjaer was uncertain whether he would play in the FA Cup third round replay against Wolves on Wednesday.
“What an achievement to get to 200 games at his age,” Solskjaer added. “I don’t know how many goals he’s scored in total; 19 this season. He’s been absolutely top class to work with. Great kid, great attitude, wants to learn, wants to improve, he knows to keep his feet on the ground.
“He’s always available. Today he’s carrying quite a few knocks but there’s no chance he’s going to say to me before the game he doesn’t want to play.
“He can [and] will become so much better. He’s got everything to be a top-class player; attitude, skill, physique. Those goals he scored today inside the six-yard box, more of them and he’ll be exceptional.”