Solskjaer and Rashford respond to Shola Shoretire making his Manchester United first-team bow
Shola Shoretire became the latest Manchester United youngster to make his first-team bow under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The 17-year-old was brought on for another academy graduate, Marcus Rashford, for the final three minutes of our 3-1 win over Newcastle United. Whilst it was too little time for him to make an impact, Shoretire describes the moment as a dream come true.
The youngster was an unused substitute in our 4-0 thrashing of Real Sociedad midweek. While he could only watch Amad Diallo make his debut that day, his moment was not far away.
Ghost of the striker past
Speaking after the game with MUTV (h/t Manchester Evening News), Solskjaer has gone on to predict a big future for the 17-year-old sensation.
“He’s going to play many games for us if he keeps doing what he’s doing, he’s training really, he’s a good boy with a good head on him and hopefully he’ll have a really good career for us.”
The Norwegian is pleased with the youngster’s application in training and was keen to give him a taste of first-team football. While it may not have been much, it is a start and there is still much to come.
“He is a boy we believe in. We wanted to give him a little taste of it. Of course the game was not done, still another six or seven minutes but he is a boy we believe in.”
Ghost of the striker present!
Marcus Rashford too took to Twitter to congratulate Shoretire on his first-team debut. The United ace believes the 17-year-old would cherish this moment for a long time.
Speaking to MUTV after the game, Rashford heaped the praise on Shoretire and backed him to go on and have a great career in Red. (h/t Manchester Evening News)
“He’s got a lot of quality, the more often he trains with us and plays with us he’s going to feel relaxed and can show his quality on the pitch.”
Just 23, Rashford is already a veteran for United, having made his debut at a young age. It was a momentous night for him as well, as he scored his 85th goal for United, going level with David Beckham in the club’s all-time goalscorers’ list. (h/t Transfermarkt)
Hopefully, Shoretire too will follow in the footsteps of Rashford and go on to etch his name in United folklore.
The future!
It has been a whirlwind month for Shoretire, who didn’t just get promoted to first-team training but also penned his first professional contract. Given his performances for Neil Woods’ Under-23 side, it is well earned.
Shoretire has been at United since the age of 10. But his footballing journey did not begin in Manchester. He did that at the academy of the very team he made his debut against – Newcastle United. Shoretire eventually moved to Old Trafford after his parents were offered jobs in the city. (h/t Manchester Evening News)
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United next take on Real Sociedad in the return leg of their Europa League round of 32 fixture on Thursday, February 25. With a 4-0 lead in our favour, it remains to be seen if Solskjaer will hand Shoretire his full debut.
It would cap off what has been a memorable month for the teenager.
