Manchester United goalkeeper Tom Heaton is excited to see what Lisandro Martinez can bring to the club in the long term after the defender made his first Reds appearance in our pre-season finale versus Rayo Vallecano.
United drew 1-1 with the Spanish outfit at Old Trafford during a game which marked our latest signing's Reds bow on home turf.
Heaton was impressed with his new team-mate’s showing and says that the confident performance isn’t a surprise.
Heaton was impressed with his new team-mate’s showing and says that the confident performance isn’t a surprise.
“That’s been the case all week,”the goalkeeper explains.
“I really enjoyed playing with him today, I think he’ll be a top, top player for the club. As I say, I thought he was outstanding today and I’m looking forward to watching him this season.
“For what he brings, physicality, how he uses his body, what he gives you in terms of mobility and on the ball and personality-wise, I think he’s going to add a lot to the team.
“You can see already what he brings. He brings that sort of larger-than-life personality at the back, controlling. As I say, I thought he was excellent today. I really enjoyed playing with him and I look forward to hopefully playing with him more this year.”
Several young Reds also got an opportunity to impress in front of a full house in M16, as our pre-season came to an end.
“Plenty of opportunities today,“ added Heaton. ”I think when you get an opportunity at the club, especially in pre-season, you want to impress.
“I’m sure some of those boys will filter out on loan to go and continue their development but the opportunity is there to try to impress and take it.
“This club has been built on the fact that young players, if you’re good enough and doing it on the grass, you will get the opportunity.
“I think [Alejandro] Garnacho was outstanding down the left-hand side, so good for him to get a good run-out, I’m sure the manager was impressed with him among others, there were plenty of good performances.
“I think it’s just taking the opportunities when they come for young lads.”
The fixture was our second of the weekend as our preparations for the new campaign rounded off with two matches against Spanish opposition.
Heaton reflected on pre-season, as a whole, speaking to MUTV and is now looking forward to next Sunday’s big kick-off against Brighton & Hove Albion in our Premier League opener.
Heaton reflected on pre-season, as a whole, speaking to MUTV and is now looking forward to next Sunday’s big kick-off against Brighton & Hove Albion in our Premier League opener.
“Very good, obviously a bit of a strange weekend with two games in two days, but it actually gives plenty of opportunities around to get 90 minutes.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it [pre-season], new manager coming in, he’s brought a new energy to the football club, I think you can probably feel that.
“[A] new style, I think everyone’s taken to it really well. I think after a real disappointing campaign last time out, we’re going into this term with a fair more optimism.
“It takes time, it won’t be an overnight [thing] but certainly the building blocks are there and everyone’s on the same page to take it forward.
“There’s certainly a calm excitement in the group and we’re looking forward to Sunday.”