Greenwood reveals his favourite United goal

Wayne Rooney’s considerable oeuvre for club and country numbered over 350 strikes and was littered with astonishing overhead-kicks, volleys and chips.

Yet, in his column for the Times last year, our all-time leading scorer opted for a less-heralded effort, against Wigan Athletic, during a routine 5-0 victory at Old Trafford in 2009.

It’s a similar story for current forward Mason Greenwood who, like his Reds forebear, seems to deal exclusively in the breathtaking.

Mason became our youngest-ever European goalscorer when twisting Astana’s blood during last season’s Europa League and he went on to net in every competition he played in during 2019/20, including superb individual strikes versus Everton, Newcastle and Watford in M16.

Further big-game goals have come against RB Leipzig and Liverpool this term, but Mason’s choice for his magnum opus may surprise you, given that, like Rooney’s, it came in a rout…

“I like the second one against Bournemouth [in the 5-2 win in July 2020]– right foot, across the goal,” he told us, as part of an exclusive interview in reaction to signing a new long-term contract with the Reds.

“It was a good game and one of my best finishes so far. That was a good one.”

The brace against the Cherries came in the midst of a real post-lockdown purple patch for Mason, who was later named our Player of the Month for July.

However, you’d have to go back to much earlier in his fledgling career, for our no.11’s most memorable moment so far.

“My debut at PSG. I don’t think you can ask for a better debut really,” Mason enthused. “It was amazing, that game and winning the game, was amazing.

“I also liked what happened in the Watford game [3-0 at Old Trafford in February 2020]. I scored and it was a good game, one of Bruno’s first games for the club.

“It was nice to see him score and to play well as well.”

Greenwood is currently on 82 appearances for United, a remarkable tally considering he won’t turn 20 until October.

He now has his sights set on emulating team-mates – and fellow homegrown stars – Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay by making it to a century for the Reds, and hopefully adding to his impressive goal record.

“I didn’t even realise I’d played that many games. I thought it was a bit less than that,” he replied when asked if it had been a whirlwind first two years in the senior set-up.

“It’s a high number at 19. Hopefully, I’ll get to 100 by the end of the season. It’s great to play that many games for Manchester United, it’s put a smile on my face.”