Manchester United are spoilt for options regarding academy strikers right now, but Ethan Wheatley has just sent a message.
On Friday night, Travis Binnion’s side won an eight-goal thriller against Norwich to make it two consecutive wins this week – after beating Doncaster on penalties on Tuesday.
In a 5-3 win for Manchester United U21s, it was Ethan Wheatley who was the shining light as he grabbed his fifth goal in four Premier League 2 games – something Erik ten Hag will be impressed by.
Three points meant United have now won three of five this season and sit ninth in the league – having lost to both Arsenal and Manchester City.
There were some key performers in the game, including one United starlet who just grabbed his first goal of the season.
Ethan Wheatley scores hat-trick for Manchester United U21 vs Norwich
For United’s U21 side, this season has started off better than the 2023/24 season with a few of the U18s moving up to great effect.
Wheatley has been part of the senior squad for much of this season, but now with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee both fit, he has returned to the U21s.
This has started successfully for him, with a hattrick against Norwich.
Also on the scoresheet was Ethan Williams who grabbed his first goal of the season – after serving a three-match suspension for seeing red against Arsenal.
The other goal was scored by Malachi Sharpe, scoring United a really good win which sends a message that this season they’ll be in and around the top of the table – having only lost to other top teams.
Harry Amass was also a standout for United in defence – as he tends to always be. The talented left-back will still be looking to push on toward earning a full senior debut.
Wheatley sends Erik ten Hag a message
Wheatley could not have timed his hat-trick better, as it came on the day that generational striker talent Chido Obi-Martin arrived from Arsenal.
The arrival of the 16-year-old will certainly shake up the striker department, as he is expected to be fast-tracked at the club, which is likely part of the reason he chose to join United.
Obi-Martin faces stiff competition in the academy with Wheatley and also Gabriele Biancheri absolutely on fire this season.
We expect that there will be a lot of back and forth with each striker trying to outscore the other to earn the position of third-choice striker.
With this hat-trick, Wheatley has sent Ten Hag a message that he should remain the third-choice striker.
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