The spotlight is trained lately on Manchester United wonderkid Mason Greenwood and deservingly so. Part of the reason the Red Devils are doing a lot better in the current term is the 18-year-old striker, and many are convinced he is the next football superstar coming from Old Trafford.
The teenager scored his 17th goal of the season as United managed a draw, 1-1, against West Ham on Wednesday. For his effort, Greenwood will likely see his squad squaring off with European rivals in the Champions League next season.
A win by United over Leicester City on Sunday will allow Greenwood to flex his talent on a larger stage in the months to come. And this early, pundits are saying that the United star is developing into a gem, likely in the mold of Wayne Rooney.
The games played by the side of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer since the season was resumed last June pushed Greenwood to the center-stage. Sure, he shared the limelight with the likes of Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes, Anthony Martial, and Marcus Rashford, but it is the teenager that has the attention of opposing teams.
Metro said opponents made the necessary adjustments to check Greenwood's scoring. He has become a marked man for the five times had cleared the net in United's last few games.
Andy Cole can't help but compare the new wonderkid from Old Trafford to Rooney, who was 18, too, when he joined up with the Red Devils.
"I'm not even sure if he's that fast but 16 goals at 18 is incredible ... This is Wazza (Wayne Rooney) level. He wasn't even expected to be in the team this season," Cole was reported as saying.
The United hero said Greenwood could kick the ball and score and both, adding that the kid is sure to improve in the seasons to come. Cole said he wouldn't be surprised if the teenager will eventually overtake both Rashford and Martial.
Greenwood's trajectory seemed headed that way. It's quite obvious that Solskjaer has confidence in the rising star. The Norwegian has rated the young striker as United's best finisher, and the numbers are in support of that conclusion.
BBC reported that the impressive stats are piling up on the teenager. As far as the present campaign is concerned, Greenwood is now in league with many United legends. He found the net more than 10 times in the season, thus giving him the same honor first achieved by Rooney in 2005 and by Romel Lukaku in 2013.
The 17 goals attached to Greenwood in the season so far had made him equal with Rooney and George Best, who were all teenagers when they turned in the record scores. And to think that United will be playing one more game, which should allow Greenwood to surge ahead of the club icons.
