Q&A: James Wilson On His Season So Far

Manchester United youngster James Wilson recently sat down with ManUtd.com to provide an insight into his season so far, discussing his relationship with his fellow strikers and ambitions for this term...

There are some big games coming up for the first-team. How much are you hoping to be involved in them?
They are massive games in terms of the season and with even with the rivalries as well. Obviously it would be great to get on the pitch for a few minutes. Any minutes on the pitch really, whether it’s for the first team or the Under-21s is great for me to get my fitness back.

You had 17 minutes on the pitch for the recent home game against Everton. How was that experience for you?
It was great being on the pitch being with the players and getting involved. It was brilliant, getting on, it was great.

What was it like coming on as sub for Radamel Falcao, a world-renowned striker and already a fans’ favourite?
Yes, he came up to me and did the clap of the hands as he came off, and said ‘Good luck.’ It’s great to come on for such a striker like that, a player in the world of football so it was a great experience.

How does it feel to know you’re in the same group as Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Falcao?
It’s great to be in contention with such names in the world of football as theirs. Obviously with the competition in training and even in the games as well, if I can just get a few minutes here and there, then hopefully I can get my chance further down the line.

It seems that Danny Welbeck leaving the club and Chicharito going out on loan to Real Madrid has given you an opportunity to play more often. How determined are you to seize that opportunity?
It’s an important time for me. Obviously with those two going – Chicha on loan and Danny getting a move to Arsenal – it’s given me a great opportunity. It’s going to be really important for me to get the minutes on the pitch.

How important to your development is playing for the U21s?
It’s very, very important because if I’m not getting the minutes on the pitch for the first team, then I’ll be happy to play for the Under-21s and get my match fitness in. You can simulate a game in training but it’s never going to be the same as a 90-minute game. So it will be good to get minutes on the pitch for the Under-21s as well.

How would you assess your season so far at that level? It started with a bang, by winning the Manchester Senior Cup…
Yes it was good, and against City as well – it’s a great rivalry between us. To get four goals in the final or any game… it’s even better to get it against the main rivals from the blue side of Manchester. It’s been good.

Tell us about the rivalry with City at U21 level. Are there any opposing players you’ve got to know through the age groups?
Not so much at City. But when you mention a team from younger years, you know which sort of players you’re going to be up against. But I don’t really think about that. A few of the lads will say, ‘Oh, can you remember that player from last year?’ And I’ll say, ‘Not really, no.’ I just focus on my own game but you do recognise players from throughout the years and if they’re still there, they’re obviously developing. So it is good to see players move up with you as well because if you’re moving up through the age groups, they’re going to be moving up as well. It’s great to see that.

After that game against City, you had to wait a while to make your next start for the U21s. Was that due to an injury?
Yes, I had an ankle injury between those times. I was training the week after the City game when I picked up the ankle injury that kept me out for a few weeks. I’ve since been getting back progressively, not going in full on. I’ve been building myself up and then getting the start against Tottenham was good. I only played 45 minutes in that game and then I played 60 against Accrington Stanley in the Lancashire Senior Cup. Obviously getting my minutes is vital.

How is the ankle now?
It’s brilliant, it’s fine, there’s no injury now. It’s good.

In the Accrington game, you set up the first goal for Will Keane who went on to score a hat-trick. How pleased are you to see him back in the team and scoring goals after his injury trouble?
Yes, he had a cruciate ligament injury, so it’s great to see such a player coming back from that. He’s in contention for my spot but it’s healthy competition. To see him coming back from an injury like that is brilliant to see.

How are the two of you together – are you friends or rivals?
We speak, we’re friends obviously! We’re not bitter about each other’s stuff, it’s good.

Perhaps you can keep taking it in turns to score hat-tricks?
Ha! Well I had mine against City and he had his own recently, against Accrington Stanley. It's good to have that competition and hopefully we can keep scoring.

And in between, Adnan Januzaj scored one as well. There must be something in the Under-21s’ water this season...
Adnan hadn’t been playing in the first team so he was moved down just like I was. Everyone’ s doing well really.

What would you say are the main benefits of playing for the U21s?
Fitness is vital to any game of football. Whether you’re playing for the U18s, U21s or first-team, you’re going to get that base of fitness, so that’s the most important thing really. Then, if you can express yourself, you can move up, from U18s to U21s, and from U21s to the first-team. It’s good.

We mentioned Will Keane, who had a long time out with injury. What are you like when you are injured – do you get frustrated or are you a good patient who listens to everything the physios says?
I like to think I’m a good patient. But I’m not a very patient patient so I do get a little bit frustrated because I want to be out on the pitch with the lads. I just do what I have to do and they [the physios] know best. They give you the best chance of coming back fully fit so I just do what they say.

But is it hard when you miss out on things, like a trip to Hungary with England’s Under-19s in May?
That was just after the season finished and, yes, I did pick up a groin injury but it was nice just to have the rest because it was a very busy season. Obviously, with injuries, it was an on-and-off season so it was good to get the break. But yes, it was very frustrating not to represent my country.

Was injury also the reason why you missed the first-team tour?
Yes, I dislocated my finger in training a few weeks before. I wasn’t back into full-contact football for a few weeks after that so that ruled me out of the tour, which was even more frustrating than missing the England trip. It’s just how it goes. Everything happens for a reason I suppose.

Hopefully you can have better luck with injuries and kick on from here… do you have any targets for the rest of this season?
Just to play for the first team as much as I can. To get any minutes for any team is vital for my fitness personally. It’ll be good to get as many as I can.

Is it important for you to get back involved with the England youth team as well?
Yes, there was a trip in the last international break to Holland. But I hadn’t played enough [for United] to end up going.

But when you do get your next chance to wear the Three Lions, is it something you’ll take great pride in doing?
Yes, when you play for your country, you’re representing your country. So it’s a very proud moment when you get called up for that.

Credit: Manutd.com