Mason Greenwood.

Greenwood outscoring all of his peers

Friday 03 July 2020 15:30

The fact Mason Greenwood is even playing regularly in the Premier League this season is pretty remarkable.

It should not be forgotten that he was still eligible for this term's FA Youth Cup and most boys his age would be operating primarily on the Under-18 stage. Yes, he made his breakthrough last season but there has been extraordinary development in 2019/20 for the talented teenager.

The records, understandably, keep tumbling for the young Yorkshireman. He became the most youthful Premier League scorer for seven years (since Raheem Sterling) when getting off the mark in the division at Sheffield United and his superb strike against Brighton & Hove Albion, his 13th overall, was his sixth in the league - the most by any player aged 18 or under in one campaign since our all-time record marksman Wayne Rooney's achievement, while at Everton, in 2003/04. 

Barcelona winger Ansu Fati has scored five goals, to date, in La Liga.

Yet these remain early days in the fledgling career of the England Under-21 international. A look across the five top European leagues (Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1, Premier League and Serie A) for comparison shows very few of his peers are even competing at this level, let alone scoring goals.

The only player who comes close in terms of output and experience is Ansu Fati as the Barcelona winger has five goals in La Liga, and 20 appearances under his belt. The Spain Under-21 international is the youngest scorer in the history of the Champions League after his strike against Inter Milan in December.

Reims striker El Bilal Toure is making waves in France's Ligue 1 with three goals in his seven outings, ensuring the African attacker is ahead of Paris-Saint Germain defender Tanguy Nianzou Kouassi, who netted twice in six games for the champions before agreeing to a move to Bayern Munich.

Others to have got on the scoresheet at a similar age in 2019/20 include Rennes midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, Eddie Salcedo of Hellas Verona, Inter Milan attacker Sebastiano Esposito and Amiens ace Jack Lahne.

Camavinga is, for sure, another player to have gained a lot of experience throughout the term.

Only two players younger than Greenwood have even appeared in this season's Premier League, although that could change with the hectic run of games possibly affording opportunities for Academy graduates up and down the country.

Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott has had a couple of late substitute appearances in the division, while the same can be said of Tottenham striker Troy Parrott.

For all of the suggestions that Mason has returned from lockdown looking bigger and stronger, it is still worth pointing out just how early he is into his career. Certainly, being at a club like United means he is in the perfect place to develop and fulfil all of his ambitions.

We are all United as the Reds go marching on! On sale now, get your 2019/20 kit while stocks last.

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