Paul Pogba has hailed Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams and revealed the advice he’s given Manchester United’s young stars in training.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has repeatedly underlined the importance of youth since replacing Jose Mourinho last December and has entrusted a number of academy products to come in and do a job in the first-team this season.
Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay are now regular starters for the Red Devils and Greenwood and Williams are arguably the standout players in an emerging group which also includes the likes of James Garner, Axel Tuanzebe and Ethan Laird.
Greenwood and Williams both impressed against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday evening and Solskjaer could be tempted to keep faith in the teenage duo versus Everton this weekend.
Pogba will play no part at Old Trafford as he waits to return from injury, but the France midfielder spoke with MUTV ahead of Sunday’s match and heaped praise on the club’s talented youngsters.
‘I think and I hope I can help them,’ the World Cup winner said.
‘I’ve said to a lot of the young players who have been with the first team: “Guys, you don’t know how lucky you are”.
‘Unfortunately for us, we’ve had a lot of injured players and it’s therefore a big chance for the young players to be involved with the first team.
‘This is one of the biggest clubs in the world and maybe the biggest club in history and they have the chance to be in this club.
‘So I say to them: “Take your chance, play, you are young, you have quality, you have nothing to be afraid of”.
‘I hope I can give them the good example when I’m on the pitch and outside the pitch and, even though I don’t see myself as old, I hope that the young players will, one day, come and take my position [when I finish playing].
‘That’s how it is, I won’t play forever. We all give our best on the pitch and I hope these young players will become legends here at the club, they have to enjoy it and really appreciate the chance they have here.
‘Mason Greenwood is scoring goals, Brandie [Brandon Williams] has been playing games like he’s been there for six months already. This is about what the club is about and what the manager wants.’
Following Greenwood’s terrific brace against AZ Alkmaar in midweek, Solskjaer reminded the forward that he still has to work on his heading.
‘He’s left-footed, right-foot. He needs to practice his heading a bit,’ the Norwegian said.
‘If he gets that right he’ll be an absolute all-round forward
Solskjaer discussed Greenwood’s talent at length but is reluctant to draw comparisons with United great Wayne Rooney.
‘Different class as a finisher, when he’s in and around the box you expect him to get a shot off and on target, because he’s so precise in his finishing,’ Solskjaer added.
‘He’s good and honest in the way he creates space for himself. Very pleased with his performance.
‘He’s a different type of player to Wazza [Rooney], he must have enjoyed tonight but the thing with Mason is he’s just going to look forward to Sunday now.
‘He’s not going to rest on his laurels, it’s just natural for him to score goals, it doesn’t matter what level he’s at.’
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