Gary Neville predicts rising Man Utd star won’t ‘fall away’ like failed flop

Gary Neville has said that Manchester United youngster Mason Greenwood looks like “a real star” and predicted the 18-year-old to have more success at Old Trafford than Adnan Januzaj.

Greenwood was handed his debut by boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the end of last season and he has gone on to score 14 goals and assist four others in 38 appearances this term.

In September, Solskjaer described the youngster as “one of the best” finishers he has ever seen and his contributions have often been crucial, including when he helped rescue Premier League points against Sheffield United and Everton.

Speaking to Sky Sports’ The Football Show, Neville claimed that he hopes Greenwood will have more success than Januzaj, who was hailed as another exciting prospect before his tenure at Old Trafford tailed off.

“I think Manchester United have got a real star there [in Greenwood]. But we have been wrong before,” the pundit said.

“You talk about Januzaj, I thought he was going to be absolutely world class and he fell away. But there’s just something about Greenwood that makes me think he’s the real thing.”

Neville also spoke about comparisons between Greenwood and Marcus Rashford, who followed the same path as his teammate into the first team under former boss Louis van Gaal.

“I think [he’s] an outstanding player and the equal of Marcus Rashford at his age,” Neville added.

“I think in some ways he’s more composed and a little bit more classy, less raw, he looks well above his age group in terms of the composure he’s demonstrated and his temperament.”

Solskjaer has struggled with key injuries this season to Rashford and Paul Pogba – among others – but has confirmed that he now has a fully-fit squad raring to go if the Premier League gives the green light for action to resume.

United’s last game before football was halted in March was a 5-0 Europa League victory over Austrian side LASK Linz, played behind closed doors.

READ MORE: Neville predicts Man Utd to race ahead of Europe’s top clubs this summer