Solskjaer hails the physical transformation in Greenwood
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has heaped praise on Mason Greenwood after his physical transformation during lockdown.
The 18-year-old has impressed for Manchester United since being given a shot in the first-team by Solskjaer, scoring 12 goals after being handed 16 starts by the Norwegian.
But rather than resting on his laurels, his manager believes Greenwood has bulked up during the three-month absence of games.
Solskjaer is convinced his young charge will benefit from getting bigger over the break.
'Mason is a young boy,' Solskjaer told the Manchester Evening News.
'He's still 18 and this lockdown period has done him all the good in the world because, at his age, they do develop and fill out and Mason's looking more and more like a man, so definitely it will help him.
'Sometimes early on you could see he was a kid. Now in training he can use his strength better and he has done really well over the three or four weeks we have been training now.
'And his quality in front of goal has always been there and now he has muscle to push defenders away.
'I am not sure it was deliberate but the fitness coaches have worked really well with him. He has got the rest and recovery period after for him what must have been an intense first full season with the first team. He is looking good.'
The return of Marcus Rashford and the extension of Odion Ighalo's loan could limit Greenwood's chances of starting but Solskjaer has told him he will have opportunities over the last nine games.
'I am looking forward to seeing more of Mason, he will score more goals,' said the manager. 'He has filled out over the lockdown period and his performances in training have been great as well.
'So I am sure he will have an impact on the rest of the season.'
United face Tottenham on Friday night in a crunch clash for Champions League qualification.
They are fifth, four points ahead of Spurs, and had been unbeaten in 11 games before lockdown began.
The 18-year-old has impressed for Manchester United since being given a shot in the first-team by Solskjaer, scoring 12 goals after being handed 16 starts by the Norwegian.
But rather than resting on his laurels, his manager believes Greenwood has bulked up during the three-month absence of games.
Solskjaer is convinced his young charge will benefit from getting bigger over the break.
'Mason is a young boy,' Solskjaer told the Manchester Evening News.
'He's still 18 and this lockdown period has done him all the good in the world because, at his age, they do develop and fill out and Mason's looking more and more like a man, so definitely it will help him.
'Sometimes early on you could see he was a kid. Now in training he can use his strength better and he has done really well over the three or four weeks we have been training now.
'And his quality in front of goal has always been there and now he has muscle to push defenders away.
'I am not sure it was deliberate but the fitness coaches have worked really well with him. He has got the rest and recovery period after for him what must have been an intense first full season with the first team. He is looking good.'
The return of Marcus Rashford and the extension of Odion Ighalo's loan could limit Greenwood's chances of starting but Solskjaer has told him he will have opportunities over the last nine games.
'I am looking forward to seeing more of Mason, he will score more goals,' said the manager. 'He has filled out over the lockdown period and his performances in training have been great as well.
'So I am sure he will have an impact on the rest of the season.'
United face Tottenham on Friday night in a crunch clash for Champions League qualification.
They are fifth, four points ahead of Spurs, and had been unbeaten in 11 games before lockdown began.
No comments:
Post a Comment