Greenwood learning from old master Cavani

Mason Greenwood is not the first talented youngster to find his second full season in the Premier League tough going, and he will not be the last. Like all newcomers, he enjoyed the element of surprise last term. Opposition defenders, while undoubtedly aware of the noise emanating from Old Trafford about this gifted teenager, were perhaps not quite as informed about his knack of taking shots early, and clinically, with either foot as they now are, for example.

A season that was always going to come with added scrutiny after Greenwood joined rarefied company when he became only the fourth teenager, after George Best,

Brian Kidd and Wayne Rooney, to score 17 goals in a debut campaign for United, got off to the worst possible start when he was sent home in disgrace from Iceland in September.

It was certainly not how anyone envisaged his senior international debut panning out and there were more concerning stories about his application at United to follow. But, in more recent times, Greenwood has kept his head down, worked hard and the benefits were felt at Old Trafford yesterday in what was arguably the 19-year-old’s best performance of the season to date.

There was a goal and an assist, which showcased his ruthlessness finishing and his ability to pick a pass, but there was an alertness, aggression and maturity to his play that manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may have found just as encouraging.

That much was evident shortly before the interval when Greenwood harried Fabinho after a poor pass by Alisson and earned a dangerous free-kick on the edge of area – the kind of razor sharp pressing we have come to associate with Liverpool’s front three and something Solskjaer is eager to replicate.

Perhaps Greenwood was taking his lead from the experienced old head to his left. Edinson Cavani, who led the line superbly for United, his movement, cunning, work ethic and nous all central to this victory.

It was that wiliness to roll Fabinho on the edge of the penalty area that won the free-kick from which Bruno Fernandes clinched the game. Cavani was also unfortunate not to score with a fine header that came back off a post.

Anyone who thought the Uruguay striker might be at Old Trafford in the twilight of his career for a handsome payday is fast realising that this is not his way. Greenwood, for one, can learn plenty from his professionalism on and off the pitch and Solskjaer hopes all his young forwards tap into his experience.

“Mason, Anthony [Martial], Marcus [Rashford], Dan [James], all our forwards have to use this time Edinson is with us to the best effect,” the United manager said. “You have got to learn from his movement, his attitude and his desire to win. He’s one of the most hard-working centre forwards, but he’s also one of the