Greenwood draws strength from United start

The teenager is fresh from his first full campaign in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad, in which he bagged 17 goals in all competitions.

Those impressive showings have earned Mason plenty of admirers, including England manager Gareth Southgate, who last week selected the attacker in his Three Lions group for the first time.

It’s less than 18 months since Greenwood made his United debut and, after being handed several cup games to demonstrate his abilities, the youngster has now become an established part of Ole’s first-team plans.

Having faced, and dealt with, so many new experiences in recent times, Mason isn’t fazed by stepping up to the international scene.

“Yeah, it’s come quickly,” Greenwood said in Tuesday’s England press conference. “You can be called in at any time and I was called into some Europa League games early in the season and I took my chance really.

“I’ve just taken every game as it comes and I’ve just been playing my football. Obviously I’ve got a good group of lads helping me there, so it’s all good.

“Games come quick during the season with the Europa League and other cups so you’ve got be ready and focused, 100 per cent, at all times.”
 
Progressing from Academy football to senior games is a steep learning curve for any player, and Mason was asked what has been the biggest lesson he’s had in the last year and a half.

“Just to be level-headed really,” he responded. “You can’t let much get to you. You’ve just got to always concentrate and be ready to play on the pitch.

“As soon as you lose concentration anything can happen so you need to be always focused and always ready for the opportunities to come.”

The England squad is packed full of top-quality talent and Mason revealed it’s a regular member of the Three Lions set-up who has had the biggest impact on his career to date.

“I’d say Marcus [Rashford], to be honest,” he told reporters. “He’s come through the same pathway as I have. He’s helped me a lot and he’s done the same.

“He’s been in my position and knows how it feels. It’s nice to have someone like that and someone to look up to and to play with him is another bonus.”

On Rashford's much-lauded work off the pitch, to tackle the issue of food poverty, Greenwood added: “He’s a good lad, we’re all proud of him. It’s amazing what he’s trying to do really.”

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