Talented Welsh midfielder Dylan Levitt is in contention for his first-team debut for Manchester United. The 19-year-old has just returned from the Welsh senior squad that qualified for the 2020 European Championships.
His name is hardly unknown and Thursday night’s UEFA Europa League match will be a chance for him to show his quality.
Levitt has played alongside his mate James Garner since the age of 7 or 8. Their connection is undeniable and friendship, too. On Thursday, they could start in midfield together in Kazakhstan for Manchester United’s first teammate.
Levitt and Garner played together as kids
When Garner hasn’t been involved in the first team, he and Levitt have been the obvious midfield pairing for Neil Wood’s under-23s side. Levitt has excelled, and got his first taste of senior football in the EFL Trophy.
When watching the Welshman, his comfort on the ball is so obvious. He drops deep to collect possession and plays on the turn, moving in and out of tight situations with impressive ease. A low centre of gravity and excellent ball control helps that.
Levitt has 3 goals and 4 assists in Premier League 2 ahead of debut
Levitt’s four assists in Premier League 2 this season highlight his quality from deep midfield. His range of passing is excellent and that vision has been key for the under-23s this season.
Few others in the side have the quality to play through the lines as Levitt does. Given United’s attacking options at that level, teams often sit back against them, increasing Levitt’s importance. The same will be true for the United first team who are often faced with a deep defensive line from the opposition.
The great understanding with Garner will come through on Thursday. Starting together will help both to settle into the game. Three goals and four assists for Levitt in PL2 are impressive numbers. Levitt struck five goals and made six assists in his best under-18s season, which was cut short by promotion to the under-23s.
Combining his metronome-like qualities with such attacking threat is why Ryan Giggs called him up to the Welsh senior squad.
It’s unlikely that would have happened with another manager but Giggs knows the youth set up at Carrington. And he knows the coaches. Those are the same coaches who love watching Levitt and are excited by his future. Those coaches include Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Nicky Butt.
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