Jim Thwaites is back from injury and better than ever for Manchester United.
It flew under the radar that Manchester United’s most impressive midfield talent currently in the academy had missed such a length of time through injury.
However, Jim Thwaites was back as United’s U18 side beat Man City 3-1, returning as a second-half substitute in the derby day victory for Darren Fletcher’s side.
Thwaites replaced Jay McEvoy at half-time, and his evident quality immediately stood out both in his dictating of play and also his absolute expertise from a dead-ball situation.
Jim Thwaites has superb comeback performance for Manchester United
City presented a formidable opponent for United this weekend, the runaway league leaders, yet it looked like it was Fletcher’s side who were in control all game long.
The press from City didn’t affect United, and it also weakened as the game went on, particularly when Thwaites was on the pitch.
Thwaites is completely press-resistant, and City clearly knew that as they dropped off him instead, which is massive praise from his peers that they rate him enough to not press, as he’d only slice through them anyway. However, they failed to remember his elite passing.
So with all the time in the world to pick out passes, Thwaites was launching balls from deep inside his own half to Chido Obi, with one almost being the assist of the season.
This is no shock, as Thwaites’ ability is well known, but it was a reminder that United can’t leave him in the academy for too long, as he is more than ready now to be playing for the first team.
Thwaites has been compared with Pedri, and Michael Carrick surely has no choice but to begin integrating him, with his quality rare in England.
Jim Thwaites extends David Beckham comparisons with excellent free-kick
Not only was it a brilliant cameo from Thwaites in terms of his passing and controlling of the game, but he also added another wonderful free-kick to his catalogue.
From the right side of the box, it wasn’t the perfect angle for Thwaites, yet he caught it perfectly. With his right foot, he curled it away from goal and the goalkeeper into the far top corner with precision.
Interestingly, the free-kick was almost a carbon copy, but upgraded, of the free-kick he scored against City earlier this season.
Thwaites has been compared with David Beckham for his free-kick scoring and corner deliveries, with elite technique and ball striking.
United have a special talent in Thwaites and he deserves a chance to rival Tyler Fletcher.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/NeJUXxs