Solskjaer could hand 18-year-old shock Man Utd debut

Brandon Williams TEAMtalk

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could hand Manchester United teenager Brandon Williams his first-team debut at Southampton on Saturday.

The 18-year-old is in with a shout of making his bow, according to The Sun, with Luke Shaw out for at least five weeks with a hamstring problem.

Solskajer has senior men in club captain Ashley Young, Marcos Rojo or Matteo Darmian to select from, but with the futures of the latter two up in the air the Norwegian could go for youth after already promoting Mason Greenwood and James Garner into the first-team squad.

Williams is right-footed, but can play in either full-back position and he has notched five assists from four games for United’s development squad this season.

He was first involved with the first team when he travelled with United to their impressive Champions League win at Paris Saint-Germain last season.

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At the time Solskjaer said: “He didn’t expect to come, but that’s part of being here, that suddenly you’re called upon, [that’s] why you’re in the academy.

“We believe in you and suddenly you have to step up — that’s why we have good coaches to make them ready.”

Manchester-born Williams signed a full contract with United in 2018 and has been likened to stalwart left-back Denis Irwin.