Amid all the new manager talk around Ruben Amorim’s possible arrival, there is still football to be played and Manchester United are now preparing to face Chelsea.
Wednesday night saw the beginning of the four-game Ruud van Nistelrooy era and it started with a victory. Like Michael Carrick, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ryan Giggs before him, the interim role looks likely to be successful for the club legend.
Manchester United thrashed Leicester City with the Red Devils winning 5-2 at Old Trafford on Wednesday night. In the process, Van Nistelrooy brought the good vibes back to Old Trafford.
Casemiro enjoyed an immense evening of football as he scored a brace, while Bruno Fernandes added a double of his own. Alejandro Garnacho was also on the scoresheet as he blew United fans away again.
The Carabao Cup fourth round also saw the introduction of Jayce Fitzgerald to the first-team squad as he watched from the bench.
Jayce Fitzgerald in senior Manchester United training
Fitzgerald featured on the bench for United on Wednesday, alongside fellow academy hopefuls Harry Amass and Jack Fletcher.
Prior to this, Fitzgerald had been utilised by Adam Lawrence in the academy for the U18s, with senior recognition looking a long way off.
But after his bench inclusion, now Van Nistelrooy has also had Fitzgerald in first-team training as the team gears up to face Chelsea on Sunday.
Fitzgerald can be seen in the training video released by United on the official club website, wearing the No.75 training kit at the beginning of the video.
Along with Fitzgerald, Ethan Wheatley, Amass and Fletcher were also in training at Carrington in the video that was filmed on Thursday but released on Friday.
Ruud van Nistelrooy can leave his mark at United
By bringing Fitzgerald into the first team, Van Nistelrooy could leave his mark on the United history books, especially if he turns him into United academy graduate 252.
This could be a real possibility next Thursday against PAOK, when another game may be too much for the legs of Casemiro – assuming Christian Eriksen is still out.
Fitzgerald has long been an exciting prospect, with reports last season even suggesting that Ten Hag had been keeping an eye on him.
With comparisons to Sergio Busquets in style of play, his calming presence in the centre of midfield could be interesting for Ruben Amorim – but it may very well be Van Nistelrooy who gets him established at this level.
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