Amad Diallo makes his mark as Anthony Elanga makes his Man Utd bow
Amad Diallo showed once again that he has what it takes to cut it at the top for Manchester United… as Anthony Elanga hints he could be next Old Trafford teenager to follow suit after making his Premier League debut against Leicester
- Amad Diallo and Anthony Elanga were handed their league debuts on Tuesday
- The Manchester United teenagers were played up top with Mason Greenwood
- Diallo impressed, grabbing an assist to add to his Europa League strike this term
- There were moments of promise for Sweden youth international Elanga, too
Once again, Manchester United are forced to look to the future after another season without a domestic trophy. The signs on Tuesday evening, however, were promising.
Defeat at home to Leicester City ensured that neighbours Manchester City became Premier League champions and left Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side marooned in second place. But all was far from lost.
United Twitter perked up on the announcement of team news an hour before kick off, with the news both Amad Diallo and Anthony Elanga were set to start.
Amad Diallo celebrates with Mason Greenwood after setting up United;s first-half goal
Diallo is no stranger to fans this season. His arrival from Atlanta was met with much excitement – excitement that he has already lived up to in Europa League appearances.
His four appearances in this year’s competition, in which United are set to compete in the final later this month, culminated in a memorable first goal for the club at Old Trafford against AC Milan.
Back on home soil once again for his Premier League bow, the 18-year-old only cemented opinion that he is destined to play a big part in United’s fortunes going forward.
Part of a young front three – with the relatively experiences Mason Greenwood leading the line, flanked by the debutants – Diallo showed that he is unfazed at this level.
While Solskjaer’s second-string didn’t get off to the best of starts – Luke Thomas putting the Foxes ahead on 10 minutes – there was an immediate response, with the Ivorian playing a key role.
Anthony Elanga showed a few glimpses of what could be to come in Man United colours
Making headway down the right, Diallo cut back and looked inside to spot the run of Greenwood on the edge of the Leicester box. A low pass into the England international’s feet allowed the striker the time to shift it onto his right foot and create the angle to drill across goal and beyond Kasper Schmeichel.
The contribution from the Premier League new boy was noted, the No 19 receiving high fives off of Greenwood as he ran to celebrate.
For Elanga, his contribution wasn’t quite as tangible, but the daunting prospect of a Premier League debut did not see him shrink on the big stage.
There were eloquent touches, and some nice turns from the 19-year-old that had Leicester defenders playing catch up – evidence as to why he is the current holder of United’s prestigious Jimmy Murphy Trophy.
Diallo already looks assured at this level, despite being just 18, and has a bright future
Elanga was born into a footballing family, his father Joseph a former Cameroon international that made up part of their 1998 World Cup squad.
Joseph made his name as a defender of the likes of Brondby and Malmo, but his son is known within the club’s Under 23s for making his impact at the other end.
A lack of defensive awareness was exposed at times, Alex Telles coaching the young winger through periods of sustained pressure on the left-hand side at the beginning of the second period.
Making way after 66 minutes, Solskjaer threw on Marcus Rashford and Edinson Cavani in place of Elanga and Greenwood in an attempt to earn a foothold back in the game, while Diallo soon made way for Bruno Fernandes, too.
Swapping places with United’s biggest stars could become a more regular occurrence if their level continue to rise.
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