Six winners from Manchester United’s pre-season so far

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Manchester United are three games into pre-season with one more remaining.

Next week is a fixture against Everton at Old Trafford and the time for experimenting will be over.

Most of the first team will return for the fixture, with just one week remaining afterwards before the opening game of the campaign against Leeds.

For several of the players used in the first few games, their opportunities will have disappeared. Some, like Tahith Chong and Di’Shon Bernard, have already been sent out on loan.

Ahead of next week’s final preparation, we took a look at the six winners of pre-season so far…

Anthony Elanga

There is no doubt who United’s big winner of pre-season is. Young prospect Anthony Elanga has seized his opportunity, netting twice.

Elanga has looked at home in the first team, winning praise from Bryan Robson, while manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been gushing in his praise of the teenager.

Elanga is likely to have a role with the first team this season, he has shown he can be helpful. Marcus Rashford undergoing surgery gives Elanga an opening, especially over the next couple of months.

The pace and quality Elanga has shown makes him an ideal fit for United’s attack, and anybody who watched him for United’s under-23s last season will not be surprised by his impact.

Facundo Pellistri

Facundo Pellistri entered pre-season as somewhat of a mystery to Manchester United fans.

Signed on deadline day last year, he then was sent out on loan to Alaves a few weeks later. The winger plays in a suddenly crowded position at United, and he has begun to show he can be a useful player in the future.

A loan is still likely for Pellistri with a return to Spain probable. Pellistri scored one goal in pre-season and provided another assist, and has demonstrated the potential which saw United sign him in the first place.

These three games have been useful for Pellistri and will build his confidence. In a year’s time, he may be ready to push for a place in the team.

Teden Mengi

Teden Mengi has had an opportunity he will have dreamed of, starting three consecutive games for the first team.

The three matches have been a challenge for the teenager, but he will have learned a lot.

Mengi, 19, is expected to go out on loan again with the path to the first team blocked for now.

He has benefitted from the absence of senior stars due to the Euros and Mengi will have found this experience invaluable.

Shola Shoretire

The fourth teenager on the list, Shola Shoretire has done a lot with very limited opportunities.

Shoretire is an exciting talent at just 17, and he has looked very accomplished in his pre-season appearances so far.

He has two assists, setting up goals for Facundo Pellistri and Anthony Elanga, impressing with his crisp, incisive passing.

United fans are rightly excited about Shoretire’s potential and he will be mixed in with the first team when the time is right this upcoming season.

Andreas Pereira

Nobody would have expected Andreas Pereira to put his name back on the map for Manchester United this summer.

Pereira’s first couple of games were mixed, before he scored a stunning volley at Old Trafford against Brentford.

A future at United remains unlikely for Pereira, but he has done his career prospects no harm at all.

There is a slim chance he could be involved on the season’s opening day due to a lack of fitness for other players, while his impressive goal is also expected to help him secure a move away from the club before the transfer window closes.

Tom Heaton

Goalkeeper Tom Heaton has started all three matches for United since returning at the start of July.

The veteran is only expected to be a back-up in 2021/22. Even so, he has shown himself to be very capable.

Heaton may have earned himself a handful of cup appearances for the upcoming season.

If one of the two goalkeepers in front of him leave this summer, then Heaton should be a dependable number two.

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