Even if Mason Greenwood does not score another goal between now and the rest of the season, 2019/20 has been a huge success for the teenager.
He struck two goals at the weekend to reach 15 for the season. On the same day teammates Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford hit the 20 goal mark, it is possible Greenwood can do the same.
Greenwood will get a rest at some stage, but United’s next fixtures should give the 18-year-old an opportunity to get close.
We face Aston Villa (a), Southampton (h), Crystal Palace (a), West Ham (h) and Leicester (a) in the Premier League, and then there is the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea, and possibly the final too.
Then there is the Europa League tournament, which could provide another four fixtures if United go all the way to the final as we hope.
Potentially that is a maximum of 11 games left, with a minimum of seven, with our place in the Europa League quarter-final pretty much assured after a 5-0 first leg win which makes the second a mere formality.
It is no sure bet, but Greenwood has a chance. The way he is playing right now, you have to fancy him to get there.
Plenty of incentives
One target Greenwood has a very strong chance of reaching and surpassing is Wayne Rooney’s goalscoring tally from his first season at United.
Rooney struck 17 in 2004/05, the prelude to him going onto eventually break Sir Bobby Charlton’s club record in 2017. He ended up on 253 for the club.
But the 20 goal mark has it’s own piece of history too, if Greenwood can possibly get there.
With Martial and Rashford already there, Greenwood could help United have the first trio to score 20 or more in 55 years.
The last time this happened was in 1964/65, when Dennis Law (39), David Herd (28) and John Connelly (20) led an impressive goalscoring trio for United.
Carlos Tevez finished the 2007/08 season on 19 goals, and Rooney on 18. This was the closest United have come since, with Cristiano Ronaldo hitting 42. Greenwood can help Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side match a half-century plus record.
20 goals is also the number netted by Joao Felix for Benfica last season. This led to Atletico Madrid splashing out on £113 million to sign the teenager, and helped him win Europe’s Golden Boy award, which Greenwood is currently nominated for.
This provides a sort of market comparison for Greenwood’s talent. No club could prise him away from United, but if he hits 20, you could argue the club has developed it’s own £100 million plus attacking sensation.
Greenwood is near enough there anyway. He is a phenomenal talent who can do it all. He will break plenty of records during his time at Old Trafford.
There is a lot to aim for over the next few weeks as a team. Greenwood has plenty of individual incentives too, despite surpassing all reasonable expectations already.
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