Mason Greenwood is set to get the chance to further enhance his reputation by leading Manchester United’s attack against Colchester.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits the teenage striker is pushing for a regular starting place after his outstanding performances this season.
The 18-year-old has scored three goals in his last two games and is expected to start again in tonight’s Carabao Cup quarter-final.
Solskjaer said: “He’s making it hard for me to leave him out. I remember when I came to the club as well and I kept scoring a few goals, but still I felt I could perform better, I’m not involved in the game.
"But the manager’s comments were that it was hard to keep players who score out of the team.
“It’s very, very difficult now to put a team out there without having Mason in my mind."
Solskjaer recognises the importance of delivering his first piece of silverware, with the Carabao Cup perhaps representing United’s best chance of a trophy in his first full season in charge.
“It’s massive for a player, the first trophy he wins, no matter which one it is,” said the Norwegian. “For me, I remember when Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic won our first trophy against Wigan.
"They got that feeling and when you get that feeling of winning it’s something you want more and more of.
“This group, we have a few players who won the championship, but there’s less and less left of them, so for us it would be massive.
“The prize now is getting to a semi-final and then you’re not too far away. The motivation and the attitude will be right.
“We showed that by the team we put out against Chelsea, that we take this seriously.
"Even though we were in a difficult spell in the league it was still important for us to create that momentum and belief in the players. We’re hoping to get to the final.”
Predicted Man Utd XI (4-2-3-1): Romero; Dalot, Tuanzebe, Rojo, Williams; Pereira, Garner; James, Mata, Rashford; Greenwood.
