Solskjaer’s best quality at Manchester United has been highlighted by Daniel James – Dominic Booth

”He by no means disappeared.”

It was a seemingly throwaway line from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer about Daniel James’ return to type, but it revealed a lot concerning the winger’s work ethic, his relationship together with his supervisor and why he is been in a position to bounce again.

In fact, you’d have been forgiven for forgetting about James, such has been the rarity of his begins for Manchester United over the previous yr. Whereas others benefitted from soccer’s three-month break between March and June in 2020, James got here again and located game-time onerous to return by.

The indicators of a slight decline have been undoubtedly palpable earlier than lockdown, though some argued James’ rocket-fast begin to life at United was only a flash within the pan in any case. The Welshman’s nickname ‘Flash’ took on a double that means. Some believed opponents had labored him out, after he’d scored three targets in his first 4 United video games following a £15million transfer from Swansea — after which failed to attain in his subsequent 33 appearances.

Solskjaer stored religion with James solidly all through that interval, nonetheless, citing his total contribution to the crew as “the perfect defensive winger on the planet” at one stage.

However the rise of Mason Greenwood put pay to James’ first-team function, a change within the aspect that few may argue with given {the teenager}’s aim returns.

James admits now that he started to query himself again then.

“There was a second final season once I wasn’t performing in addition to I wished to,” he mentioned after his aim in opposition to Newcastle on Sunday evening. “This season I’ve mirrored on that as a lot as I can, replicate on the video games and dealing on the coaching floor as onerous as I can.”

If that was not trustworthy sufficient, James went on.

“I feel I misplaced my manner a bit. I wasn’t enjoying the identical as I did firstly of final season. That is once I had to take a look at evaluation. I’ve had the proper individuals round me to assist me take a look at that, working with the coaches to get me again to myself and I would wish to suppose I’ve acquired there.”

James deserves immense credit score for placing within the onerous yards behind the scenes to show he has a future at United, whether or not that be as a daily starter once more or as a really helpful squad participant.

Solskjaer too is being vindicated for his composed administration type and having persistence with a participant who — it shouldn’t be forgotten — was not even within the Swansea crew 12 months earlier than he arrived at Outdated Trafford. To leap from that, to common enjoying time at United would have been astonishing. It was not a shock that the previous Hull teen hit a bump within the highway.

However Solskjaer and United stood agency amid curiosity from Leeds United — who famously noticed a deal for James fall by in dramatic type in January 2019 — in multiple latest switch window. They wished James to develop, and the participant himself remained decided to show himself once more at Outdated Trafford.

“He has been working onerous behind the scenes and at all times been obtainable,” added Solskjaer.

Manchester United made heavy climate of their 3-1 win over Newcastle, finally getting the job completed at Outdated Trafford.

Marcus Rashford, Daniel James and Bruno Fernandes have been on the scoresheet as United got back to winning ways within the league. They’ve a Europa League second leg vs Actual Sociedad on Thursday.

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“We work with him, we attempt to assist everybody however after all Dan got here from the Championship, he hit a number of targets within the first video games and it’s sure to take some vitality from you. He has knuckled down and actually labored to get again to full health however perhaps extra so confidence, to imagine in himself.”

There’s something about James that will get supporters on his aspect. The way in which he celebrates with gusto after scoring a aim, his boyish smile and his rags to riches story — it endears him to United followers.

He went from that, to changing into the brunt of many supporters’ jokes throughout his tough patch of type. And it was onerous for him.

But it surely has been pleasing to see James’ work ethic, and Solskjaer’s cautious administration of the participant, bear fruit in latest weeks. Three targets in his final three video games — six in his previous 9 for membership and nation — is only a begin. However United’s strategy would possibly simply be paying off with the 23-year-old Wales worldwide.