Wout Weghorst has support from Bruno Fernandes and Gary Neville as some continue to question why he is playing regularly for Manchester United.
The 30-year-old arrived on loan in January to fill a gap up front for the Red Devils which emerged due to the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo and the consistent fitness problems of Anthony Martial.
The Dutchman has played more than many expected, already starting six Premier League games, twice in the League Cup, once in the FA Cup and also at Barcelona in the Europa League last week.
The giant forward has scored just one in those 10 starts and some are wondering why he is getting so much game time under Erik ten Hag.
Disgraced former Sky Sports employee Richard Keys said of Weghorst on beIN SPORTS: ‘You’re playing with ten men most weeks if he’s in.
‘I mean, he doesn’t do enough to justify a starting place does he? Come on, let’s be honest!’
Current Sky Sports employee, and Manchester United legend, Gary Neville questioned Weghorst’s ongoing selection himself before the win over Leicester on Sunday and does not seem convinced by his talents.
However, he does admit that he works hard and brings some qualities to the team, which he admires.
‘I love Wout Wehghorst. We shouldn’t laugh, but there are times today… You have to admire Erik ten Hag picking him for every single match,’ Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast.
‘I asked Ten Hag about that before the game. He feels he brings something to the team, and I can see why. Man United last season, there was this debate about whether or not they could press with Cristiano Ronaldo. They couldn’t close down from the front. They couldn’t press. You have to be able to press in the modern game.
‘What Weghorst does, he’s very good in transition. He’s very good defending set-pieces. He’s very good when they’re in shape and he’s watching space. He’s doing a vital job for a team that has got a lot of attacking talent. That’s why he’s playing every week.’
Bruno Fernandes has also praised the big man and expects goals to come for him when he builds confidence.
‘Sometimes it’s like this, you want the ball to go in and it’s a matter of time,’ said the Portuguese. ‘As a striker, you always want to score goals but he’s doing his job, doing a lot of runs that we need, the pressure that we need.
‘This is why he’s still playing. It’s a matter of time until he gets his goals. After he gets the first he will open something that will give him more and more goals so he can help the team even more.
Source: metro.co.uk
