Amidst all the contract talk surrounding Angel Gomes at the moment, it is perhaps easy to forget that he hasn’t been named in a match-day squad for Manchester United since January 22.
Reports in recent weeks have suggested the Red Devils are still optimistic that they can reach an agreement with Gomes over a new deal, whilst ex-United man Wes Brown exclusively revealed to Football Fancast that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will know what to do.
But ahead of the Red Devils’ Europa League clash against LASK on Thursday night, Gomes could be set for a rare appearance – the teenager was named in the travelling squad to Austria.
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And Solskjaer should not think twice about unleashing the 19-year-old starlet.
LASK currently boast the best defensive record in the Austrian Bundesliga, conceding just 20 times in their 22 league games. They are not going to be pushovers by any stretch of the imagination, especially at home as they are on Thursday.
United will need players who can provide a moment of magic, and can help either set up a goal, or score one themselves. And Gomes has proven in his time at academy level, that he is very much capable of doing that.
Even in just five games in the Premier League 2 this season, he has found the back of the net four times, and provided one assist too. His ability to play virtually all across the front-line should make him a difficult player to mark and keep track of, and it would help lighten the pressure on Bruno Fernandes to create and do everything himself in an attacking sense.
Mason Greenwood could be the United academy product the team looks to for a source of inspiration, but Gomes may just be the player who goes under the radar. His contract situation could even inspire him to put in the kind of performance that makes it clear the Red Devils can’t afford to let him go.
It’s all perfectly set up for Solskjaer to unleash him.
Meanwhile, this Man Utd starlet could be the future of the club instead of Tahith Chong or Mason Greenwood.