Ralf Rangnick suggested that Mason Greenwood had not done enough in training to justify a start in his first league game as interim manager but the teenager surely did enough in the Champions League to make him reconsider that stance for Nico Hoerner Jersey his second.
The temporary Manchester United bo s said Greenwood needed to show in his training displays that he "deserved" game time after starting him on the bench for his first fixture against Crystal Palace.
The 20-year-old, however, produced a strong argument against Young Boys in midweek that he should partner Cristiano Ronaldo for the trip to Norwich this weekend.
His goal was just another example of the remarkable finishing technique he has in his locker.
The difficulty of the execution of his finish against the Swi s side was such that his Brad Wieck Jersey expected goals (xG) for the game was just 0.13 and yet he still managed to find the target.
It is no wonder Ole Gunnar Solskjaer claimed two years ago that Greenwood was the best finisher at the club.
MORE:
With Ronaldo doing a good job to dispel any myths that he cannot play in a pre sing side with his last two performances,he is guaranteed his place in the starting XI.
With Rangnicks penchant to play with two up top, the question mark now is over who will partner him.
The majority of Greenwoods performances at first-team level have come on the right, with doubts over his physical ability to lead the line as the No. 9 at such a young age. That is a view Rangnick seems to also hold despite only having a handful of training se sions to see Greenwood in action.
James Norwood JerseySo, how does Rangnick see him fitting in?
I think Mason is more of a nine-and-a-half, the German said on Wednesday night. He can play as a striker, he can also come from the wing, he can play together with another striker, he is very technical, left foot, right foot.
Sometimes he looks a bit... not on an athletic level. I think we have to develop him there physically, but technically all the things he can do with the ball Victor Caratini Jersey are outstanding.
I am not worried about his technical level. We need to develop him physically and mentally to become the strongest version of himself and if we manage to do that, he can become a regular player and a very valuable player for our club in the future.
In the two games Rangnick has managed, he has started with a strike partnership.
Against Crystal Palace it was Ronaldo and Marcus Rashford at the top of a 4-2-2-2 formation, while Greenwood was joined by teenager Anthony Elanga in the changed 4-1-3-2 formation against Young Boys.
Rashford has yet to find peak form since returning from his injury; he wasn't bad against Palace but he wasnt a standout like Greenwood in the Champions League either.
In fact, the dual-striker system seems perfectly set up to help Greenwood thrive.
MORE:
The pre sure of leading the line in a single centre-forward setup will be relieved by the experience of having Ronaldo alongside him and Greenwood can cover the Portuguese when those pre sing i sues no doubt arise.
As a strike partnership Mark Grace Jersey , they have the qualities to complement each other. Greenwood is capable of dangerous runs in behind to cause the defence problems, while Ronaldo is a potent threat in the box and they're both clinical in front of goal.
Rashford has similar qualities, of course, but the 24-year-old mi sed the start of the season with a shoulder injury and his finishing quality is not on the same level as Greenwood.
Rangnick has suggested his team to face Norwich on Saturday evening will be very similar, if not the same, as the XI that beat Palace last weekend.
That would give Rashford another chance to impre s his new manager. With Greenwood breathing down his neck Kyle Hendricks Jersey , however, its an opportunity he needs to grasp because there are no guarantees that he will be starting every week.
Some food for thought for Rangnick ahead of a busy festive period.
The Wall