Manchester United youngster Ashley Fletcher has revealed that he looks up to strikers James Wilson and Danny Welbeck.
Fletcher joined Manchester United as part of their Under-12 squad from Bolton Wanderers. He has progressed through the ranks and has now become part of Under-21 Red Devils’ side.
The 19-year-old has a penchant for scoring goals and last season he was the top goalscorer at Under-18 level for the Old Trafford outfit.
Fletcher has revealed that he looks up to his fellow strikers and Manchester United academy graduates Wilson and Welbeck, as he aims to progress to the senior side.
This season, Wilson has featured in Louis van Gaal’s first team, in his 12 Premier League appearances the youngster has scored one goal. Welbeck was sold to Arsenal last summer however and has so far scored seven goals and assisted a further four for the Gunners.
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19-year-old Paddy McNair and 20-year-old Tyler Blackett have also made their first team debuts under the Dutchman. And Fletcher counts his former team-mates among his inspirations.
“Yes, I look up to James Wilson and obviously Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett too, and Danny Welbeck when he was here”, Fletcher said in an interview with the club site.
The Yorkshireman added that seeing his former team-mates become first team members acts as an inspiration and goes to show that with hard work he can achieve first team status too.
“They show it’s not a million miles away as they have come through the ranks and progressed.
“I see them as role models, to be honest, and hope I can get there too. It does tend to happen quickly.
“Look at Paddy – he was thrown in at the deep end in a way this season and handled it fantastically well”, he concluded.
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