Manchester United’s pre-season tour was filled with hope, youth and positivity. The start to the 2019/20 term has been anything but…
Tomorrow’s game against Rochdale presents Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and United with an opportunity. Youth will be utilised, no doubt we’ll see heavy does of Mason Greenwood, Tahith Chong, Axel Tuanzebe and Angel Gomes. However, there’s one youngster I think we’re all sleeping on…
James Garner made a substitute appearance for United against Crystal Palace last February, but he’s yet to be handed his full debut. During pre-season tour, the Englishman would score his first goal against Perth Glory – though we’d not see him with any regularity.
Anyway, this game against Rochdale is the perfect opportunity for Man United to hand a full debut to the 18-year-old midfielder – and here are the three key reasons why:
Garner brings something different to the table
Nemanja Matic is ageing, Fred is still sitting on the bench, Andreas Pereira isn’t good enough. In the area of the field where this United squad is incredibly thin, there’s an opening to try something different.
Garner is the ideal box-to-box midfielder who loves to do the dirty work defensively, while joining in on the attack, too. His strike against Perth attests to that perfectly.
He’s ready to prove his worth
I’m not sure why Garner is being made to wait longer than the rest of United’s youth to get his opportunity. For me, he’s up there with Greenwood as being the best of the lot.
Nobody likes being made to wait around. Garner will have a point to prove when finally given the chance. I’ve full confidence in the 18-year-old to grasp that opportunity with both hands and never look back.
He can’t do any worse than our other midfielders, can he?
What does Ole have to lose? If Garner plays, and performs well he’ll be hailed a genius. If not, he’ll be praised for rolling the dice and giving an academy kid a chance.
Rochdale are lower league opposition, this is the ideal situation to give Garner a start and see what he can do in a competitive fixture. This could well be the making of an incredibly gifted young man…
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