As if Saturday couldn’t get any more perfect for Manchester United, not only did the club win its game, but fierce rivals Liverpool lost, and United’s loan players thrived.
Joe Hugill scored his first league goal for Wigan, then doubled it, and then Radek Vitek matched his performance in goal.
The Czech goalkeeper is spending this season on loan in the Austrian Bundesliga with BW Linz after impressing in Man United’s pre-season.
Unlike Hugill, Vitek was already off to a good start in his new surroundings but he has just dropped a statement performance in Linz’s biggest game of the season.
Radek Vitek’s statement performance
As a team that got promoted to the top division just last season, not much was expected of BW Linz this season.
This was going to be an ideal scenario for Vitek, who was sure to get tested often and at a high standard since the goalkeeper would be kept busy.
So far, Radek Vitek had risen to the challenge in style, and ahead of BW Linz’s biggest game of the season, the Linz derby vs LASK, all eyes were on him.
He delivered in style, putting on a man-of-the-match display. He kept the opposition out almost single-handedly at times as his less-fancied BW Linz team got the upset 1-0 win.
Vitek saved three goalbound shots with his trademark quickness and reflexes, the shots which, against any average goalkeeper, would have definitely led to at least one goal, if not more.
He was kept busy even in possession, often forced to go long as LASK pressed in swarming fashion. Vitek connected with just six of his 17 long balls, but it helped in relieving the pressure BW Linz were under.
Man Utd’s problem of plenty
Goalkeeper is arguably the toughest position to break into the senior team for a young player for obvious reasons.
Dean Henderson, the last prospect who looked like doing it, faced a wall with the name of David de Gea. He was too good to be a backup, not judged good enough to replace the Spaniard.
United could soon find themselves in another problem of plenty for that position if things keep panning out the same way.
Andre Onana is the undisputed first-choice, and his recent displays have been great. Tom Heaton is an ambassadorial presence more than a playing member but that’s not a place you can stick a youngster in.
Altay Bayindir is a Turkish international who’s happy to be a backup, and Erik ten Hag doesn’t rotate often anyway.
Then comes the youth crop, where Radek Vitek might be ready for the Premier League as early as next season, while Elyh Harrison is impressing on loan as well.
There’s only so much waiting a youngster will do, and be happy with loans before he starts seeking pastures anew permanently for stability.
In Harrison’s case, that problem might be some way in the future but Vitek is improving at a rapid rate. Rapid enough that United might have a decision to make soon. It’s a good problem to have, but a problem nonetheless.
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