Mason Greenwood is a doubt for Manchester United’s Premier League clash against West Brom on Saturday.
The academy graduate has become a genuine first team star over the course of the past year and I feel Solskjaer deserves credit for protecting him now in a time guardianship is needed.
Solskjaer understands the demands that come with being a goalscorer for United. Greenwood is still very much a kid and everyone goes through rough patches.
It could be time to take him out of the spotlight which is what I think Solskjaer is trying to do.
“You have to take a step back sometimes,” Solskjaer told the press (via MEN). “The boy’s only 19, he’s had a fantastic year, if we go a year back I left him out of the Carabao Cup against Chelsea.
“Mason stayed back and played against Doncaster in the Checkatrade Trophy to get game time, that’s how far he’s come. Now he’s got 19 goals, made his England debut, scored in his first Under-21s game and of course the headlines are gonna be about when he scores and doesn’t play.
“Everyone’s allowed to not be well, if you’re not well you can’t train. He’s been away eight or nine days from training, we’re just building him up again and I have no doubts about him.
“He has a very good head on him and the talent is there for all to see.”
Speaking to MUTV (also quoted by the MEN), the Norwegian added: “Mason is fitter. He had eight or nine days away from us which is long time. He’s been training hard this week in the gym and on the grass. He’ll be back soon.”
United have yet to win at home in the Premier League this season and won’t want to throw away another opportunity this weekend against the Baggies.
Solskjaer notes how difficult it is playing in front of an empty Stretford End, which is something the players have had to deal with since Project Restart.
Although it’s a factor that should be noted, at the end of the day, football is a simple game and United usually have eleven players who are better than the opposition.
“Home and away now is different, not like it used to be,” Solskjaer added. “We’ve had four home games in the league, the first one we look at having no preparation and Palace deserved it. Tottenham deserved win after Anthony sending off, other two games if we had our fans might have sparked that little extra X Factor we needed in two close games.
“Our best win this season was against Leipzig at home though. It’s something we wanna correct and get our first win hopefully against West Brom but it’s a different sensation playing in front of the Stretford End without fans, they normally score a goal for us.”
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