At the start of the season, not many were familiar with the name Brandon Williams.
The teenager had just been introduced into Manchester United’s U23 setup, and whilst he looked an encouraging talent, there were no immediate plans to place him into the first-team picture.
Even under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s new established system in paving a pathway for academy figures to break into the senior squad, many seemed to be ahead of Williams in the pecking order. The highly-regarded Ethan Laird being one.
However, as we have down the years at United, opportunities can arise at any given point. The Englishman started the Red Devils’ trip to AZ Alkmaar back in October, with Solskjaer making the decision to utilise the Europa League as an opportunity for the club’s youngsters to gain first-team minutes.
Embed from Getty ImagesWilliams impressed in the 0-0 draw, and just a month later, he was making his first Premier League start at home to Brighton. The opportunity came due to a Luke Shaw injury and an Ashley Young suspension, not that the teenager was complaining by any means.
Flying down the left-flank, the Englishman injected some energy into the side, overlapping Marcus Rashford, offering himself as an attacking outlet. Since then, he simply hasn’t looked back. Williams has now made twenty-six first team appearances, constantly pushing Shaw for that left-back position.
His emergence has even altered the club’s transfer plans [via MEN], with this defensive spot not being considered a priority. The Athletic reported on Thursday that the 19-year-old is now set to be awarded a new contract at Old Trafford, to reflect his new status as a first-team player.
Most interestingly though, they also cite that England manager Gareth Southgate has been impressed. The Three Lions boss believes the youngster has the potential to play for his side. Ben Chilwell is the prominent starter, but with just 29-year-old Danny Rose in the ranks, Williams has every chance of breaking through as a LB.
The Euros this summer may have been a tad too early for the defender, but with another full-season under his belt, he could be under serious consideration for the competition next year.
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