Garnacho has two goals and two assists this season (Picture: Getty)
Wes Brown believes Manchester United should resist the temptation to hand breakout star Alejandro Garnacho the famous no7 shirt.
The 18-year-old forward forced his way into Erik ten Hag’s first-team plans with a series of stirring performances before the World Cup break.
Following his first goal for the club in the Europa League against Real Sociedad, he provided two assists off the bench in the Carabao Cup victory over Aston Villa before scoring a dramatic last-gasp winner against Fulham.
The goal at Craven Cottage drew comparisons with one scored by Cristiano Ronaldo 15 years ago with Garnacho now hoping to help fill the void left by the Portuguese’s departure after United cut ties last month.
Ronaldo’s exit leaves the no7 squad number vacant with Garnacho touted a possible successor to fill the famous shirt.
Former defender Brown, who won 11 major honours under Sir Alex Ferguson between 1999 and 2011, believes the introduction of the Argentina youth international has helped lift the level of the entire squad, but suggests it may be too early for him to succeed Ronaldo.
Brown also hailed ten Hag’s handling of Garnacho, believing the decision to leave him out of the side earlier in the season ‘angered’ the youngster with United now reaping the benefits.
Garnacho scored a superb winner at Fulham in November (Picture: Getty)
‘Maybe not just yet, and I don’t mean that in a bad way,’ Brown told Metro.co.uk in behalf of Bet365 when asked about Garnacho inheriting the no7 shirt.
‘He is a great young player, I love his attitude on the pitch, the way he wants it, the way he attacks. With young kids sometimes, it like, “give me the ball and I will give it straight back to you”.
‘But he’s not into that, he wants to show everyone how good he is. He wants to do well for himself and do well for the team. I think the manager has done well too holding off on him for quite a long time in that first period of the season.
‘I know he has been training with the lads every day and he has probably been a bit frustrated he hasn’t been involved a little bit earlier.
‘But that has helped him, getting that bit of anger out to show that he is good enough to play in this team. Now it is just about managing that.’
Brown added: ‘There are quite a few wide players, if someone is not playing well, there is a respect there that if Garnacho keeps playing well, he is going to keep playing. He steps everyone’s levels up.
‘We have quite a few players who can play in those positions so it’s a huge boost. It gives the manager a headache but it s good for fans if they are all battling and there is no sulking going on. That is what makes a winning team. You play so well that the manager just can’t take you out.’
MORE : Alejandro Garnacho names his favoured position at Manchester United despite competition for places
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Garnacho is a candidate to get the famous shirt following Ronaldo’s departure.
