Butt issues challenge to Man Utd midfielder Pereira

Andreas Pereira TEAMtalk

Manchester United’s Nicky Butt has challenged Andreas Pereira to express himself more in the first team.

Pereira, 23, made 23 appearances for United this season and was integrated into the first team under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The Belgium-born midfielder though only managed one goal and one assist and head of academy Butt wants Pereira to play his natural game in a bid to take his development to the next stage.

“Andreas has done well,” Butt told Inside United. “He’s a really good footballer.

”He’s technically very gifted, he’s a brave, tough boy and can run all day. He is fitter than probably anyone on the pitch. He needs to get into the rhythm and get more confident as time goes on.

“He needs to do the things he was doing naturally in the Under-23s and Under-19s. When you get into the first team – I remember when I went in – you don’t do the things you would do in the reserves and youth team. You get away with it in the youth team – if you give the ball away trying to hit an unbelievable cross, you’re not giving it to, say, Sergio Aguero, who is going to run through freely and score the goal that knocks you out of the cup.

“It’s not the be all and end all like it is in the first team, so you have to tread carefully. When you get in the team regularly, then you can express yourself more. Scott McTominay has done that and I think Andreas will soon too because he’s a top talent.”

Pereira has been given a further year to prove himself to Old Trafford after the club took up the 12-month option on his contract in March.