Solskjaer tips United promise Greenwood for England cap
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Mason Greenwood is "definitely" good enough to play for England after impressing again for Manchester United.
Mason Greenwood took his Premier League goals tally to by scoring a brace on Saturday and Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has tipped the youngster for a call-up from England in the near future.
Owen, Rooney, Fowler... and Greenwood
The 18-year-old produced clinical finishes in either half as United thrashed Bournemouth 5-2 to briefly move into the Premier League's top four. Only Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney and Robbie Fowler have scored more Premier League goals in a season while aged 18 or younger and that trio all went on to feature for England on multiple occasions.
Bradford-born Greenwood has represented his country at various youth levels, debuting for England Under-21s last September, and Solskjaer believes he is on track to make the step up to Gareth Southgate's senior side. Asked if he was "a future England striker", Solskjaer told BBC Radio 5 live: "Definitely, if he keeps on developing. We'll do our best to develop him. I'm just worried about him playing for Man United, not England. There might be some Norwegian blood in there, I don't know! I don't think so."
Greenwood, cool customer in front of goal
Solskjaer added of Greenwood: "[He's a] great talent, great finisher and he's learning more and more, growing more and more, [making] better and better decisions on and off the pitch. He's an exceptional finisher, he can score right foot, left foot. If he can learn how to head a ball he'll be the complete striker."
United are now unbeaten in 16 games in all competitions, a streak that dates back to a home defeat to Burnley on 22 January. This latest victory enabled United to go fourth until it was reclaimed by Chelsea, 3-0 winners against Watford later on Saturday, yet Solskjaer insisted there is still a long way to go in the race for Champions League qualification.
"I don't think anyone worries or cares about that now, we've got so many games left," he said. "Five games left - we know we have to focus on every single one of them at one time because you can only beat the team you're playing against. The next one is [Aston] Villa, we'll have a good look at them tomorrow and recover and prepare for that one."