Manchester United kick off preparation for the new season this Sunday when they face Derby County at Pride Park. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will lock horns with his former teammate and United great Wayne Rooney, who is currently in charge of the Championship side.
The Red Devils will be without a majority of their first-team players as they are still on holiday following the Euro 2020 and Copa America. The likes of Marcus Rashford, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot, Scott McTominay, David de Gea, Eric Bailly, Fred, and Daniel James haven’t returned to pre-season training yet. This means that the United side will feature a youthful team for the first few pre-season fixtures.
Let’s take a look at 5 Manchester United players to watch out for in pre-season:
Mason Greenwood
Mason Greenwood will be one of the star players for the Red Devils in pre-season and will be hoping to get back to full fitness following an injury at the end of last season. Greenwood had to pull out of England’s Euro 2020 squad to recover from the injury.
Greenwood is earmarked to be a future first-choice striker at Manchester United and he could very well be in the United starting XI for the first game of the league season. Edinson Cavani hasn’t returned to training yet while Marcus Rashford is set to have surgery which leaves Solskjaer with few options up front. Greenwood’s speed and finishing will be crucial for United’s attack to blossom.
Tom Heaton
Tom Heaton re-signed with Manchester United ahead of the 2021-22 season, over a decade after leaving the club he started off his footballing career at. The English ‘keeper has been signed as a backup option and is currently third in the pecking order behind David de Gea and Dean Henderson. But, he could very well become United’s second-choice ‘keeper if one of de Gea or Henderson leaves the club.
The pre-season will show Solskjaer and the United coaching staff if they can trust Heaton between the sticks and if the former Aston Villa and Burnley player can perform well in high pressure situations.
Anthony Elanga
19-year-old winger Anthony Elanga played twice in the league for the senior team last season, scoring in the final game of the season against Wolves. The Swedish attacker was a threat throughout the game with his pace and troubled the Wolves backline on a few occasions.
Elanga could be sent out on loan by United and the pre-season could be an audition of sorts for the youngster. Capable of playing on either flank, Elanga is rapid with the ball at his feet and is unafraid to take on opposition defences time and again.
Shola Shoretire
Shola Shoretire is yet another exciting young player who has come through the ranks at Manchester United. Like Elanga, he too made his first-team debut last season, making three substitute appearances for the club. The 17-year-old is a confident and quick dribbler who likes to take on defences, while also scoring plenty of goals.
Shoretire, along with other players from the academy like Hannibal Mejbri, could be given a few opportunities in pre-season due to the absence of first-team players.
James Garner
20-year-old midfielder James Garner has been likened to former Manchester United player Michael Carrick thanks to his passing and composure in midfield. Garner had a fantastic spell on loan at Nottingham Forest last season, where he became a key player for the Championship side.
He could go out on loan again this season, but may play a part for United in pre-season. Garner has earned praise from the United coaching staff and is seen as a future first-team player.
