Ole Gunner Solskjaer says Mason Greenwood’s finishing resembles that of former United striker, Robin van Persie, one of the best strikers of his generation.
Greenwood scored his third first-team goal in Thursday’s 3-0 Europa League victory over Partizan Belgrade.
“Asked about the Van Persie comparison, he is very composed with his finishing.” Said Solskjaer.
“What he does is natural to him. I don’t think he knows whether he’s right or left foot is the best.”
The Partizan game marked Greenwood’s fourth start this season and his first since 3rd October. In that time, he has dropped down to the reserves, playing and scoring a later winner for the under 23 in the EFL Trophy against Doncaster.
However, he is yet to start in the Premier League this season. He has played in 12 of United’s 17 games this campaign.
That number is more than Solskjaer intended. However, it has been forced on him by Anthony Martial’s eight-game absence with a thigh injury.
“Mason is going to have a very big career. But sometimes, it is not the right time to play him,” added Solskjaer.
“He has gone up from the under-18s last year, now he is training with the first team every day and you can’t just turn that switch on and off. You have to perform every day if you are going to be accepted by a group like this.”
“If he’d stamped his authority in training every single day and been the best option he would have played every game, but as a young boy you expect ups and downs and he has had some downs. But I think he is on his way up again.”
Solskjaer says it was right to let experienced pair Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez leave for Inter Milan to guarantee Greenwood more chances this season, even if the full benefit may not be felt for several years.
“It is the club’s philosophy and mine to give young players with the right attitude a chance. Mason is going to have a big career. But if it takes a couple of years for him to come through, it is worth for us.”