Manchester United certainly had a strong (and enjoyable) pre-season tour. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s faith in youth was refreshing while the talented teenagers at this club certainly delivered with some top-quality performances.
However, since the serious stuff started in mid-October, results have dwindled as have performances. We’ve also seen serious drop-off in playing of the youngsters despite the United squad being hit by an injury crisis.
Mason Greenwood has had his chances while Axel Tuanzebe is shining at the moment. However, Angel Gomes, Tahith Chong and James Garner have somewhat disappeared into the background again.
So-much-so that there could well be a change of plan. According to United’s academy player performance manager, Les Parry, the club have identified ‘four or five’ players who could now leave on loan in the mid-season window. Amongst those are probably the latter trio as they definitely need minutes in competitive matches to kick on and push their games to the next level.
“We’ll plan it out and we’ve identified four or five who might be going out in January. Obviously, our first-team manager has a say,” Parry is quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror.
“Angel, Tahith, and James could have gone out on loan but he wanted to keep them here and have a look at them on tour. So a decision will be made, no doubt, for January as well. Hopefully, all three will be in the first team and not going anywhere.
“They’ve been presented with an opportunity and they’ve taken the opportunity so now a couple of them are regulars on the team sheet each week. We’ve had opportunities that have cropped up from nowhere. That’s football.
“Hopefully, some of the lads out on loan now will also catch the eye as some have gone out with a perception of their ability and where they’ll end up but hopefully they’ll come back and people will say maybe we’ve got a little diamond.”
I think it’s a given that Chong will be heading out on loan. He hasn’t looked ready for first-team football at the highest level during his few appearances so far. For me, the Dutchman looks a little lightweight while he has a tendency to drift in and out of matches.
Garner is an outstanding prospect and I’m still left scratching my head as to why we haven’t seen more of him. For whatever reason, Solskjaer uses the Englishman the least despite midfield being a real area of need.
As for Gomes, United have to play this one carefully. His contract expires in the summer and no doubt the club want to keep him around. However, without regular first-team minutes at Old Trafford, don’t be surprised to see the 19-year-old walk away for free in June 2020…
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