Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria

Erik ten Hag surprised by Man Utd wonderkid that solves Harry Maguire problem

mirror.co.uk, 30 December 2022, 16:44
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag could be without Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof for his team's Premier League fixture against Wolves at Molineux due to illness

Manchester United wonderkid Rhys Bennett could be given the nod for the Premier League game against Wolves on Saturday.

Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag is facing a selection dilemma at centre-back due to the impact of the World Cup. He was forced to start Luke Shaw in the unfamiliar role against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday due to the unavailability of Lisandro Martinez.

The Argentine is expected to be available to play at Molineux, although there are still doubts over Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof due to an illness sweeping through the United camp. As such, Bennett - a 19-year-old defender - could be involved on Saturday.

Bennett was born and raised in Manchester and is the club's under-18 captain. He was United's skipper during their successful FA Youth Cup campaign last season - playing alongside Alejandro Garnarcho - and has made three EFL Trophy appearances this term.

Bennett was an unused substitute in the 3-0 home win against Forest and could be involved against Wolves if Maguire and Lindelof are still unavailable. He could even start if Ten Hag wants to ease Martinez back into the fold after his World Cup triumph with Argentina.

Playing Shaw at centre-back again is another option, but Bennett's inclusion would allow the England international to return to his preferred role on the left of the defence. Raphael Varane, who lost the World Cup final with France, is expected to continue at centre-back.

Would you like to see Rhys Bennett make his debut against Wolves on Saturday? Let us know in the comments below!

As reported by the Manchester Evening News, Ten Hag's faith in Bennett was evident during United's training session on Thursday, when the youngster left a strong impression. The 19-year-old was involved throughout and hasn't returned to the reserves - despite the return of Martinez, Varane and others.

Bennett got his chance to leave an impression on his boss during the World Cup break and seems assured with his new surroundings. United are renowned for giving young players a chance, with Youth Cup winners more likely to get a shot in the first team.

The last United side to win the Youth Cup in 2011 included Jesse Lingard, Paul Pogba and Michael Keane - not bad company for Bennett to join. The likes of George Best, David Beckham, Gary Neville and Bobby Charlton also won the competition with United.

Bennett will be eager to get a shot in the first team sooner rather than later. "Coming up through the ranks at United, it's obviously a dream to play at Old Trafford," he told United's website. "It's just an amazing feeling to step out on the pitch and give it our all.

"It's an unbelievable experience. I can't take it for granted. You don't know how many times you're going to step out at Old Trafford. Every single time you do, you've got to just embrace it, go and give your all and hopefully keep working hard to play as many games at Old Trafford as possible. I love it every time I step out."

Molinuex may not be Old Trafford, but it will feel like it if Bennett is given the opportunity against Wolves. With Martinez available, his hopes of starting look slim - but there's every chance he could play a part on Saturday. "We need impact from the bench," admitted Ten Hag at his pre-match press conference.

Top News

18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Besiktas vs. Hatayspor (Saturday, 5.00pm) Two sides with contrasting ambitions clash when Besiktas host Hatayspor at the Tupras Stadyumu on Saturday in the Turkish Super Lig. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lecce vs. Atalanta (Saturday, 5.00pm) After suffering cup final heartbreak in midweek, Atalanta BC's frantic season finale continues on Saturday evening, when they visit Lecce at Stadio Via del Mare. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Frankfurt vs. RB Leipzig (Saturday, 2.30pm) Seeking to guarantee a top-six finish in the Bundesliga, Eintracht Frankfurt welcome RB Leipzig to Deutsche Bank Park for their final league fixture of the 2023-24 season on Saturday afternoon. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic vs. St Mirren (Saturday, 12.30pm) Newly-crowned Scottish Premiership champions Celtic will look to end their league campaign on a high when they welcome St Mirren to Parkhead on Saturday afternoon. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Feyenoord will look to end the 2023-24 Eredivisie season on a winning note when they host a struggling SBV Excelsior at De Kuip on Sunday afternoon. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cadiz will attempt to send their survival fight to the final day of the season when they play host to Las Palmas in Sunday's La Liga contest. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has dismissed speculation that he has already agreed a deal to join Newcastle United this summer. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sparta Rotterdam will play their final match at Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel for the 2023-24 Eredivisie season this Sunday afternoon when they play host to a stuttering Heerenveen. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The final match at MAC³PARK Stadion in the 2023-24 Eredivisie season will see PEC Zwolle playing host to Europa League hopefuls FC Twente on Sunday afternoon. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wellington vs. Victory (Saturday, 7.30am) Wellington Phoenix and Melbourne Victory square off in the second leg of the A-League Finals Series semi-finals on Saturday. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have reportedly dropped their pursuits of Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies and Lille's Leny Yoro. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Almere City and NEC draw the curtain on their respective 2023-24 Eredivisie seasons with a meeting at the Yanmar Stadion on Sunday afternoon. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has admitted he would like to manage in Spain at some point in his career. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk AZ Alkmaar will be looking to pick up a fifth straight victory when they entertain the challenge of FC Utrecht at the AFAS Stadion on Sunday. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With the chance to guarantee their La Liga survival ahead of the final day of the season, Celta Vigo will travel to Los Carmenes to meet already-relegated Granada on Sunday. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Concluding a triumphant Ligue 1 campaign, Paris Saint-Germain head to the Stade Saint-Symphorien on Sunday to face a Metz side destined to scrap for survival in the relegation playoffs. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly received a major boost in their pursuit of summer target Teun Koopmeiners after Atalanta BC announced their asking price for his signature. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Le Havre are set to take on Marseille at Stade Oceane on Sunday evening in the final matchday of the 2023-24 Ligue 1 season. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford midfielder Josh Dasilva has signed a new contract to keep him at the club until at least 2025. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A highly-rated Arsenal academy prospect has confirmed that he will be leaving the club when his contract expires at the end of the season. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United and Arsenal will need to act swiftly if they intend to capitalise on the release clause in Jeremie Frimpong's Bayer Leverkusen contract, according to a report. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea could be without as many as seven players for their final Premier League fixture of the season at home against Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea will endeavour to end the 2023-24 campaign on a high by qualifying for European competition when they welcome Bournemouth to Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sevilla will look to bounce back from consecutive defeats when they travel to San Mames for Sunday's La Liga clash with Athletic Bilbao. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea's Cole Palmer has won the Premier League's Young Player of the Season award for the 2023-24 season following an incredible breakthrough campaign. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sixth-placed Lens are set to take on 12th-placed Montpellier HSC in the final game of the 2023-24 Ligue 1 season at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Sunday evening. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Galatasaray have the chance to seal the Turkish Super Lig title when they host arch-rivals and closest challengers Fenerbahce at Rams Park on Sunday. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny has confirmed that he is leaving the club at the end of the season. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof and Anthony Martial are all training with Manchester United ahead of the team's final match of the 2023-24 Premier League season against Brighton & Hove Albion. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Napoli have reportedly entered the race to sign Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood during this summer's transfer window.