In a summer packed with international football with Manchester United players taking part at the European Championship and Copa America, United’s pre-season will kick off with a depleted squad available.
As a result Erik ten Hag will have to draft in a number of academy players to fill the holes for the pre-season tour.
With United’s u18s hot off the back of a treble-winning season, the timing couldn’t be any better to dip into the never ending production line of talents at Carrington.
In our third part of the series, we look further up the field towards Ethan Williams.
An two-footed winger, Williams is a rare breed of player where it is near impossible to tell which is his stronger foot.
This offers a great flexibility to his game where he can operate on either wing and can twist defenders inside and out as he dribbles in every direction.
A key player for both the u18s and u21s last season, Williams put up a remarkable 17 goals and 9 assists in just over 2,000 minutes.
Looking to the first team squad, the options are deep on the wings but it can be argued that very few have as decisive a game as Williams.
With seven first team wingers signed to the club, it would seem a tough task for any academy player to breakthrough in the position but when you look deeper, holes start to appear which could give Williams his chance.
Players loaned out last season such as Jadon Sancho, Mason Greenwood and Facundo Pellistri are all likely to depart the club again.
That only leaves Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho who have both proven to be of the level required at times, and Antony and Amad, who as of yet have really only shown glimpses.
As a result, Williams will be looking to make an impact on the summer tour to rival Antony and Amad as squad options.
Typically operating on the left wing, which unfortunately is the preferred side of both Rashford and Garnacho, Williams can also play on the right and due to his hard work and determination. He also has some experience in deeper left back and left wingback roles that could earn him some extra minutes in pre-season due to the lack of options at left back.
A tricky two-way winger, the 18 year old’s twisting dribbling isn’t even the most exciting part of his game, but rather his exceptional ball-striking ability.
With United really struggling for goals last season, Ten Hag and his staff will be certain to be impressed by Williams’ finishing ability.
Whether on his left or right boot, power and accuracy describe the youngster’s shooting. He rarely misses from within 25 yards.
It is not just shooting though either; Williams’ crossing and deliveries from set pieces are whipped in with real venom that will have Rasmus Hojlund salivating at the opportunity.
A real game changer, if given the opportunity on tour, Williams is the type of youngster to only need one chance to make his mark, akin to Rashford’s breakthrough into the first team.
The next of this academy breakthrough series will be published tomorrow, bookmark thepeoplesperson.com so you don’t miss out.
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