Even before Angel Gomes made his Manchester United debut in 2017, he was tipped for the top.
The 18-year-old is on the fringes of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s plans, and has been included on the club’s pre-season tour to show what he can do.
Gomes is regarded as United’s most talented young player, possibly with the exception of Mason Greenwood.
We really want him to seize his chance this month and secure a regular spot in United’s first team squad this season.
To do so he must overcome two challenges in front of him.
Nail down a position
Gomes’ versatility can help him, but it can be a hinderance too.
He is able to play as an attacking midfielder centrally, cutting in from the wing, and even as a deep lying playmaker
This month he needs to try and state a case for one of these, and start becoming a legitimate first team option.
His best position is probably in attacking midfield, and it would be great to see him start putting pressure on Jesse Lingard.
Show height doesn’t matter
One of the most noticeable things about Gomes is his size, or lack of it.
This hasn’t stopped Lionel Messi in his career, but it could make United’s coaching staff hesitant to use him in the Premier League.
Gomes needs to prove during pre-season that he can mix it physically at first team level, and that the management don’t need to be concerned.
The talent is there. Last season he scored six goals and provided five assists in 16 under-23 games.
He just needs a bit of faith from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
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