Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has "no doubts" that Mason Greenwood will soon be back to his best as the talented teenager edges towards a return from illness.
Long touted as a future Old Trafford star, the 19-year-old academy graduate scored 17 goals in all competitions during a stunning breakthrough season.
No teenager has scored more in a campaign for United, equalling the tally managed by greats George Best, Brian Kidd and Wayne Rooney with performances that saw Greenwood fast-tracked into the England set-up.
But the 19-year-old, who joined Phil Foden in being sent home shortly after September's senior debuts in Iceland for breaching the bio bubble, has yet to reach last season's levels, netting twice across eight appearances.
"You have to take a step back sometimes," manager Solskjaer, who knows a thing or two about scoring for United, said. "The boy's only 19 and he's had a fantastic year.
"If we go a year back, I left him out of the Carabao Cup against Chelsea. Mason stayed back and played against Doncaster in the Checkatrade (Trophy) to get game time and that's how far he's come.
"Now he's got 19 goals for the first team, he's made his England debut, he scored on his first Under-21s game. He's had a fantastic development.
"Of course the headlines are going to be there about him when he scores, (or) if he doesn't play.
Didier Deschamps said Pogba cannot be happy with his playing time and positioning at United, but Solskjaer brushed aside such talk.
"Paul's had a difficult season last season," he said. "He's had Covid now (earlier in the season).
"I think those three games he played for France helps both us and Paul, and it helped France. He gets a rhythm, he gets his fitness.
"I've spoken to Paul and he certainly felt towards the end of the Portugal game and definitely the end of Sweden game he felt stronger for it.
"He played well, they qualified. I think he's only going to improve.
"Paul is, as I've said, a very important player and very important person for us.
"To have him in form and happy is going to be vital for the run that we can hopefully put together now."
