Ethan Wheatley has outgrown Premier League 2 as dominating stat proves, he deserves a chance

Erik ten Hag has said previously that a huge part of goalscoring is down to confidence and if that’s any indication, Ethan Wheatley is doing a pretty good job of it.

Getting his senior debut last year, Ethan Wheatley has gone back to the grind of U21s football despite now being recognised as a bonafide member of the first team.

As the senior team struggles for goals and seemingly wastes multiple big chances every game, he continues to look in from the outside.

Joshua Zirkzee is a creator in a striker’s body and Rasmus Hojlund still looks at least a few games away from being match fit and non-rusty.

If there was ever a time to throw the dice and take a gamble that might create a superstar, it’s now, and it’s with Ethan Wheatley.

His dominating performances this season prove he’s done all he can to deserve it on his own merit, in addition to the circumstances in the senior team.

Photo by Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images

Ethan Wheatley leads the way

Unlike Man Utd U18s, who are setting fire to the competition in the Premier League U18s, Man Utd U21s haven’t had as good a time.

They are currently placed ninth in the league, winning three of their five games but there’s a huge mitigating factor.

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United generally challenge youngsters to play at an age group higher than usual so the U21s group is mainly made up of teenagers or exciting youngsters.

Despite being ninth, United have scored a tremendous 15 goals in those games, and Wheatley has contributed a third of that tally.

In just four games, Ethan Wheatley has scored five times, leading the way in the Premier League 2 goalscoring charts despite playing a game less.

The troubles for U21s have been in defence, also conceding 12 in the process, but that is down to the inexperience of youth and the youngsters will be better for it in the long term.

Most importantly, it is giving Wheatley mountains to climb as the club needs to continue challenging him despite not getting senior minutes.

However, at a certain point, they have to make a call and throw the dice to get him in the first-team picture again, especially as the international break windows end in November and the fixture list gets even more daunting.

Best of both worlds

Wheatley shot to prominence with a remarkable goalscoring season for the U18s in their treble-winning campaign last season.

Goals under-18s Assists under-18s Goals under-21s Assists under-21s Total Goals Total Assists Total Goal contributions Ethan Williams 2023/24 9 5 8 3 17 8 25 Under-21s also includes UEFA Youth League

Usually, exorbitant numbers in the youth circuit are down to a physical advantage over the opposition, which, as the player moves up the ranks, vanishes.

However, Wheatley’s domination is down to the intangibles that players take years to learn. He is already beyond his age when it comes to anticipation, movement in the box, identifying pressing triggers, and cutting passing lanes.

That is why his production hasn’t dwindled despite moving up to the U21 team this season, scoring more than a goal per game.

When that happens, the natural next step has to be a chance in the first team and for Erik ten Hag, there really is no excuse to not do that.

The senior team is not setting the world alight in terms of scoring goals but it’s not like the chances are not being created, in which case Wheatley would have had a thankless job.

They need a guy who is coming with the confidence of scoring goals and Gabriele Biancheri, who’s doing something similar for the U18s, is more for the future.

Wheatley can be the present. He’s already a part of the first team.

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