Mason Greenwood should not be judged purely on his goal scoring, Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said after the teenager’s effort completed a comeback victory over Brighton.
The 19-year-old headed in his first Premier League goal at Old Trafford this season after Paul Pogba’s volley had bounced into the ground.
It was his first in the league since May 2020 and his sixth goal in 40 appearances in all competitions this season, a campaign which started with him being sent home from an England camp after breaching Covid guidelines.
“When he gets those goals, we know he’s going to add another dimension to his game,” said Solskjaer, who could be without forward Anthony Martial for the rest of the season through injury.
“The world nowadays is so on to stats and this and that.
“The boy has played fantastically [during] the last two or three months and has really come on. If he keeps learning and improving he will score more – he’s a lethal finisher.”
Brighton took an early lead when former United striker Danny Welbeck reacted quickest after his initial header had been saved, nodding in from close range.
However, not for the first time this season, United improved from a lethargic opening period to sweep to victory in the second.
Marcus Rashford levelled when he opened up his body and rolled an excellent shot into the corner from Bruno Fernandes’ lay-off, before Greenwood’s winner eight minutes from the end.
The result gives United an 11-point cushion in the battle for a top-four place, although West Ham and Everton could reduce that to eight if they both win their matches in hand.
