Nicky Butt backs young duo to excel with Manchester United this season

Manchester United’s head of first-team development Nicky Butt believes the likes of Angel Gomes and Mason Greenwood have a genuine chance of securing regular gametime under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this term. The young pairing have not featured in any of the Under 23 games for the Red Devils to date and it appears quite clear that they are in the plans of Solskjaer.

In a report covered by The Manchester Evening News, Butt mentioned the names of Gomes and Greenwood when asked about the players, who could make the breakthrough from the academy, he said: "I think it's unfair to settle on one. I think Gomes could set alight this season and do really well, he's matured and got a lot stronger. Purely for the excitement and the fans I think Greenwood is going to be a real, real superstar if he keeps his feet on the ground, he's patient and he scores the goals that he can. He's both footed, he's a big, strong, powerful kid who can score goals and he's still very much a young boy who's likeable."

Among the duo, Greenwood was lauded by the supporters for the pre-season showing and he could not quite make the starting lineup against Chelsea last weekend where the likes of Andreas Pereira and Jesse Lingard were preferred ahead of him due to their experience. Greenwood is capable of playing in both the centre-forward and right-wing positions, but his chances of regular playing time remain less at the present point of time.

Still, he can make the difference with cameo roles off the bench and that may ultimately decide whether he can become a favourite under Solskjaer. Greenwood, 17, came off the bench during the Red Devils’ convincing 4-0 triumph over the Blues. Marcus Rashford was the pick of the players with a goal in either half.