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Daniel James has endured a roller coaster ride for 18 months at Manchester United.
He got off to an explosive start to his life at Old Trafford, scoring three times in his first four games and impressing everyone at Carrington with his enthusiasm and pace of work.
Even before joining his new teammates for preseason, James was making hard yards in the Middle East, much to the delight of his new fan base.
The fact that he has adapted so well to join what is arguably the biggest club in world football makes it all the more surprising for the fact that he tragically lost his father just weeks before signing for United.
He dedicated his first goal for the club, the fourth in a 4-0 win at Chelsea, to his father as he aimed skyward at Old Trafford.
It was an emotional moment for the former Swansea City winger, who only had one season of professional football under his belt before moving to Manchester.
In his fourth Premier League game for the Red Devils, he scored a stunner in a 1-1 draw at St Mary’s against Southampton, a game in which United legend Rio Ferdinand was in the boxing field.
He said this about James’s performance: “This kid today, he was the bright light on this team.
“He was the guy they went to for inspiration or any kind of threat on goal, he came across this guy.
“Yes, he makes mistakes, he’s young. That is going to happen. He would be naive or foolish if he thought not.
“But what I’m going to give you is this guy works like crazy, he really goes out there and takes responsibility.
“He wants the ball and when it comes in he gives them a problem, he’s a threat.
Then he made a very interesting point. “What I like about him is that he wants the ball,” he added.
“Take the ball, make a mistake, jump, dust yourself off, give it to me again. That’s the mentality of the best players. The best players don’t shirk responsibility, they welcome it.”
That mentality Ferdinand was referring to has been put to the test in recent months. After a start to sleep, James encountered problems; He worked like United too, with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer always just three defeats away from a crisis at Old Trafford.
The Welsh attacker slid down the pecking order, especially with the development of Mason Greenwood and the arrival of Edinson Cavani this season, and James has had to bide his time on the bench and bide his time, all the while taking a lots of undeserved things. abuse on social media.
The mentality Ferdinand highlighted was present in abundance at the weekend, as James played a key role in United’s 6-2 win over Leeds United. His inclusion came as a surprise, according to Gary Neville, who praised the 23-year-old’s performance. “It was the perfect game for him,” Neville gushed.
James also entered the roster, controlling a missed pass from Scott McTominay and heading home for United’s fifth. It was all he deserved. The determined way in which James has conducted himself in recent months has shown that Ferdinand is right about the mentality of the best players.
Roy Keane, a man who is never easily impressed, also pointed out the character of James at Sky Studios after the game.
“He has had a bad time. He’s had a hard time since he went to United. He started his United career very well, but had a difficult few months, “he said.
“Again, thanks to Ole, he probably thought it was going to be his kind of game and it was going to be open. Going to United was a big step for him.
“Look at his face, it meant a lot to the boy and I am delighted for him. Playing for Man United is not as easy as everyone thinks, there is a lot of pressure.”
Now comes the turning point for the man from Wales. The European Championships are on the horizon and more competition in the form of Amad Diallo is coming next month.
James has been constantly linked to a move away from Old Trafford the next month. He needs playtime, no question. But there is no question of his strength of character in the face of a challenge. Ferdinand and Keane are in complete agreement on that.
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