Manchester United are searching for consistency under Ruben Amorim but one former winger is flying high in the Premier League.
Manchester United are back in action on Thursday night with Southampton visiting Old Trafford.
Ruben Amorim is looking to build on Sunday’s FA Cup win over Arsenal with a vital home win over the struggling Saints.
United’s home performances have been a mixed bag with recent defeats to Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and Newcastle United leaving fans disappointed.
Amorim will want to drive United forward but one former Old Trafford talent currently finds himself in something of a title battle.
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Anthony Elanga on Manchester United exit
United sold Anthony Elanga to Nottingham Forest in 2023 with a £15million fee being brought in.
Elanga joined the United ranks at the age of just 12 and progressed to become a first-team player at Old Trafford.
The winger made 55 first-team appearances for United but decided to leave the club for Forest.
Elanga now finds himself sitting second in the Premier League table with Forest flying high under Nuno Espirito Santo.
Forest drew 1-1 with Liverpool on Tuesday night with Elanga picking up another assist, picking out Chris Wood for Forest’s opener.
Elanga spoke to Rio Ferdinand before the game and told TNT Sports that he felt lost towards the end of his time at United.
Elanga felt like he was ‘playing for the sake of playing’ at United and wanted to find ways to learn and develop as a player.
Forest have given that opportunity with Elanga really enjoying the family feeling at the City Ground, where he is a key player rather than being a fringe prospect at United.
“At the time at United I feel like I was just playing for the sake of playing,” said Elanga.
“I wanted to find ways to learn and improve and coming to a different team, different type of status allowed me to properly find ways to improve.
“I feel like here is a really, really big family club where everyone is really together. I’m not saying we weren’t together at United, but I’m just saying here, we’re really, really together and it’s showing on the pitch as well,” he added.
Anthony Elanga makes speed claim
Elanga joked with Leny Yoro after United’s win over Arsenal, so he clearly still has one eye on United’s fortunes.
Whilst speaking to Ferdinand, Elanga made the bold claim that he is the fastest player in the Premier League.
“Are you the fastest player in the league?” asked Ferdinand.
“100%,” said Elanga, claiming that he is faster than Adama Traore and Kyle Walker
“I believe I’m the fastest player… I wouldn’t say in the world, I would say in the Prem,” he added.
Few full backs can keep up with Elanga in full flow and it’s a shame that his speed is on show in the red of Forest rather than United.
The move ultimately made sense for all parties though and Elanga is taking his game to another level at Forest, something he may not have been able to do as a squad player at Old Trafford.
Nobody expected Forest to be right behind Liverpool this season but you can be sure that United fans will be cheering on Elanga to make history and beat Liverpool to the Premier League title.
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