Lindelof and Ibrahimovic talk up Elanga ahead of international duty

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Electric Anthony Elanga is in line for his senior Sweden debut after a flying start to 2022 at Manchester United.

He has received his first senior call-up ahead of a huge week as his country look to try and qualify for the 2022 World Cup.

They face a semi-final clash with the Czech Republic for a place in the final of the play-offs to grab one of three remaining available European slots in Qatar.

Ahead of the game, Elanga has been praised in the Swedish press by former United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is not fit to play on Thursday.

Ibrahimovic told SVT: “A great talent, we are proud and happy that he comes from Sweden,” about Elanga.

“The fact that he is able to represent Sweden now makes it even bigger. He has all the future ahead of him, and if he continues just as he has done, it looks positive. It’s just to fight, never be satisfied, strive for more.

“It depends on him how far he can go.”

United teammate Victor Lindelof will also be Elanga’s captain at international level and talked him up to the club’s official website.

“He’s a great talent, still very, very young but he’s got some really, really great qualities as a player,” Lindelof told us. “He’s very fast with great technique and he’s got an eye for goal.”

“If he just keeps on working hard, stays humble, and keeps his feet on the ground, I think he can have a great future ahead of him.”

“Like I said, he’s still very, very young so I think it’s important to let him develop in his own time, but he’s a great talent.

“Of course, I always try to help players and help team-mates if they need my help. That’s the kind of person I am, I always want to help people, so of course I talk to him. He’s from Sweden, so it makes sense that I speak to him as well.

“I’m also the captain of the national team so for me to do that just comes naturally. I’ve spoken to him and said stay humble, keep working hard, and keep doing your thing.

“Keep your feet on the ground and work hard because even if you’re young and you manage to come to this level, it’s a great thing, but staying at this level is also hard because you need to really keep working hard.”

Elanga is one of the players keeping Jesse Lingard out of the United side at present and the Englishman has paid Ibrahimovic a visit during his time off.

Lingard has not been selected by England – which was unsurprisingly given his lack of gametime – and flew to Milan on his downtime, with United not back in training until after the international break to prepare for their clash with Leicester.