One area of concern for Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag in recent times has been the lack of midfield depth, with a number of injury and suspension issues having left that department looking rather depleted.
The return of Scott McTominay from his muscular issue has somewhat eased those woes – while both Casemiro and Marcel Sabitzer have now served their respective domestic and European bans – although the Red Devils are still set to be without both Donny van de Beek and Christian Eriksen for an extended period of time.
The loss of the latter man, in particular, has proven a notable blow for the Old Trafford outfit, with the Denmark international set to be out of action until the latter stages of the campaign, having sustained an ankle injury as a result of a stern challenge from Reading’s Andy Carroll in the FA Cup last month.
The 31-year-old had been an almost ever-present since joining on a free transfer during the summer, with the one-time Tottenham Hotspur man having scored twice and provided nine assists in 31 games in all competitions so far this season, with 27 of those outings coming from the start.
The loss of the experienced playmaker has left something of a creative void in Ten Hag’s side, with recent arrival Sabitzer having yet to truly showcase his attacking quality, after failing to provide a goal or an assist in his four outings in all competitions so far.
If the former Ajax boss is looking to find a better fit to help fill the hole left by Eriksen between now and the end of the season, the 53-year-old may well be wise to look to the club’s academy ranks to find a suitable option.
Who can replace Eriksen at Man United?
While Kobbie Mainoo has already been handed a brief taste of first-team action in recent weeks, the 17-year-old could be joined in the senior set-up by fellow teenager, Dan Gore, with the latter man also currently thriving at academy level.
The 18-year-old Englishman no doubt mirrors the aforementioned Eriksen with his ability to operate in an advanced playmaking berth or in a central midfield role, having scored twice and provided one assist in 18 games in all competitions this season.
The former Burnley asset – who boasts a haul of four goals and five assists for the Red Devils’ U18 side to date – was notably part of the FA Youth Cup-winning side last season alongside the likes of Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, with the aim now to join his youth colleagues in making the step up to the first team.
Lauded as “one of the most talented youngsters” in the club’s academy by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Gore was also the recipient of notable praise from youth coach Colin Little last season, who stated:
“He (Gore)’s been absolutely brilliant. You get what you see with Dan Gore. He brings it to training every day, he is competitive, combative, he is a really good footballer. He has been progressing really well, like the others.”
Likened to Chelsea gem Mason Mount, the England youth international is said to have ‘very strong’ creativity, technique and vision – among other qualities – as per Kulig, with such traits no doubt similar to that of Eriksen, who has been praised for his “intelligence” by club legend Paul Scholes.
As Little noted above, Gore can also offer a ‘combative’ presence in the centre of the park alongside his more forward-thinking qualities, having showcased he is not afraid to leave his mark after reportedly producing a crunching, training ground challenge on Anthony Martial, sparking a furious reaction from the Frenchman.
That added bite to go with the teen’s creative flair should ensure that he is able to swiftly adjust to life in the first team, with the hope being that it is not too long until he is called upon by Ten Hag.
