WHICH LEGENDARY STRIKER COULD GREENWOOD BE LIKE?

Luke Shaw has praised Mason Greenwood for a “fantastic” breakthrough season and believes the teenager has the potential to emulate former Manchester United forward Robin van Persie.

The left-back, writing in his weekly lockdown diary, thinks that, although the teenager still has a long way to go on his football journey, he has made a promising start to life at Old Trafford.

Greenwood has contributed 12 goals and four assists for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side so far in 2019/20, despite coming on as a substitute in 20 of his 36 appearances.

“He’s had a fantastic first season in the first team. He’s clearly a natural goalscorer,” wrote Luke.

“This season – even though he doesn’t start all the time – his goals return and his stats are great, and he’s got some assists too, if I’m not mistaken. For someone so young, in their first season, he’s done brilliantly.

“He’s still got so much to learn, but if he carries on working hard and pushes himself every day then I don’t see why we can’t see him turn into another Robin van Persie or a player of that style that’ll score lots of goals for us.”

One of Greenwood’s most noticeable traits is his ability to use both feet.

While 10 of the 18-year-old’s dozen strikes for the Reds have arrived via his left boot, he opted to take his first penalty for the club, at Tranmere in January, with his right – and scored.

And Shaw hasn’t come across too many other footballers in his career who have such flexibility when it comes to shooting.

“Purely the fact that he’s so two-footed, it’s unbelievable,” Luke added.

“When I was younger, when I played youth football, there was a young lad called Lewis Baker who played with Chelsea, he was always both-footed.

“Him and Mason are probably the only two pure two-footed players I’ve seen. When I was at Southampton, Adam Lallana could also use his left and right very well.

“Also Ravel Morrison was very strong on both feet and we’ve seen a lot of people talking about his potential in recent weeks, but I’d say Mason is stronger on that front.”

Luke was answering a question from a fan, who had asked who the England international thought was the brightest young talent at the club.

Although Shaw reserved the most praise for Mason, he also named four other Academy prospects, all of whom have appeared multiple times in Solskjaer’s side this season.

“There are plenty coming through and there are a few who have got massive potential to become really good players, and I mean with United as well.

“Everyone knows the lads who have been doing really well with the first team: obviously Brandon [Williams], Angel [Gomes], Chongy [Tahith Chong], Mason and Jimmy Garner as well.

“This is really hard because they’re all amazing, but the one we’ve probably seen the most of this season is Mason.”