Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has urged striker Mason Greenwood to improve his heading ability if he is to take up the revered number nine shirt of the club. Greenwood netted his first goal of the season for the Red Devils in Tuesday’s EFL Cup clash against Luton Town which United won 3-0.
Solskjaer is predicting that Greenwood will lead the line for United in the coming years but insists that the forward must first make adjustments to his game.
“He had a fantastic season last season and to get his goal now was important to him,” Solskjaer said to the club’s website.
“Marcus too. It always is with strikers, to get that confidence and feeling of scoring, to get that hunger again.
“So I’m very happy with that, he [Greenwood] just needs to work to get his fitness and sharpness back.”
When asked about Greenwood’s position, Solskjaer added: “He can play through the middle as well.
“I think, as a young boy, not physically grown yet, it is nice to be facing forward rather than being the number nine, the foil; being the battering ram if you like.
“So I think he will end up as a number nine in the end, probably. But he’s so good with his right and left [foot], so he can come in off his right and left, or through the middle.
“I scored most of my goals from just outside the post as well, I wasn’t like in the middle.
“For him to be a number nine, though, he needs to learn how to head the ball. I keep telling him that and, if he wants to do that, he’s welcome to come and practice with me.”
United are back in action away to Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday in the Premier League on Saturday as they look to bounce back from their opening defeat to Crystal Palace.
