Versatile Tri-National midfielder Maxi Oyedele was one of the star performers for Manchester United as the Premier League giants recorded their first win of pre-season by beating Cyriel Dessers’ Rangers 2-0 at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on Saturday.

The Poland Under-21 international, who is eligible to play for England and Nigeria, capped a brilliant performance by providing the assist for United’s second goal, scored by academy product Joe Hugill.

Manchester United made it 2-0 in the 70th minute with Hugill’s unstoppable shot from the edge of the penalty area, which hit the crossbar and passed Butland after he had received a precise cross from Oyedele.

With several Manchester United players yet to report for pre-season training due to their participation in the 2024 European Championship and Copa America, manager Erik ten Hag has promoted a number of excellent youth players to first-team training, including Habeeb Ogunneye and Oyedele.

Oyedele featured in United’s opening pre-season friendly against Rosenborg and was given more minutes in Saturday’s win over Rangers.

He has admitted that one of his aims for next season is to follow in the footsteps of two prodigies from United’s Academy, Englishman Kobbie Mainoo and Argentine Alejandro Garnacho, by breaking into the first team.

Shortly after the match against Rangers, Oyedele told MUTV: “I feel good, there is a big improvement compared to the previous match.

“Look at Kobbie Mainoo and Garnacho, two guys who are just breaking through the youth ranks. They’ve played with them at youth level. That’s great to see and it motivates us.

“Opportunities like this are great and I hope for more.”

Oyedele has yet to make his first-team debut for Manchester United and was loaned out to Altrincham and Forest Green Rovers for two consecutive seasons to gain a taste of first-team football.

Ifeanyi-Emanuel

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