Solskjaer: Cavani can bag goals for us
Edinson Cavani was a only whisker away from a dream Manchester United debut, but boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer predicts the Uruguayan will be a goal hit for the Reds.
Our deadline-day signing made his United bow in the 0-0 Premier League draw with Chelsea at Old Trafford on Saturday, when he came on as an early second-half substitute for Daniel James.
The 33-year-old began his United career in the 57th minute of the stalemate, and just a minute into his debut was almost celebrating opening his Reds account.
The former Paris Saint-Germain, Palermo and Napoli hitman, who has scored 341 club goals since moving to Europe from South America in 2007, expertly nicked Bruno Fernandes's whipped-in cross at the corner of the six-yard area, but agonisingly saw it glide just millimetres the wrong side of Chelsea’s near post and into the side-netting.
He also had a later chance blocked by his former PSG team-mate Thiago Silva.
But the half-hour-plus cameo from Cavani was potentially just a taster of more to come.
And the boss reckons the one-time Ligue 1 and Serie A Golden Boot winner can provide the Reds with a new weapon.
“He showed in glimpses [what he can do]. He’ll give us a presence in the box,” said Solskjaer.
“There was a nice little run towards the near post, a nice little flick. He almost had another one when Thiago Silva had a great block - that would have been great for him.
“He has clever movements, great runs. He is an experienced centre-forward and the more we get the ball into him in and around the box we will get some goals from him. He has come in and had a great influence on the training ground already but we know he needs game time to get his sharpness.”
Cavani won't have to wait long for further opportunities to grab his first United goal, with the Reds set to host RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday, before Arsenal visit for a Premier League clash next weekend.
Our 2020/21 home, away and third kits are available to buy now from United Direct.