Ayden Heaven is certainly one of the brightest defensive talents within the country, but he also wants so as to add goals to his game.
The 18-year-old made his senior debut for Arsenal last 12 months before moving to Manchester United on February 1 and quickly making an impression.
The teenager made six first team appearances before the top of the season and would have made more if it weren’t for an ankle injury picked up in March.
He’ll hope to proceed to feature commonly in Ruben Amorim’s defence in the approaching season, but he also desires to make an impact within the opposition’s box as much as his own.
The 6’2″ centre-back admires the likes of Arsenal’s Gabriel and Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk for his or her goal-scoring prowess.
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He also gave a nod to teammate Harry Maguire for the threat he poses from set-pieces, wanting to accomplish that himself within the years to come back.
‘I would like to attain more goals from set pieces,’ Heaven told The Athletic. ‘You see Gabriel and Van Dijk, and defenders like Maguire as well. I would like to be like them, within the box scoring headers.
‘I believe that’s all the time a plus to have as a defender. It’s more of a mental thing as well. You’ve got to consider you’re going to attain this goal.’
Heaven, who has been capped by England as much as Under-19 level, is yet to attain a senior goal, but did rating in a post-season friendly win over Hong Kong.
The young defender is making impressive progress and has thanked two people specifically for his or her help since he joined the Red Devils.
Van Dijk vs Gabriel vs Maguire
The Premier League stats of the goal-scoring centre-backs.
Virgil van Dijk
Apps: 301
Goals: 25
Gabriel
Apps: 160
Goals: 17
Harry Maguire
Apps: 268
Goals: 14
The Premier League’s highest-scoring defender is one other centre-back.
John Terry
Apps: 492
Goals: 41
Heaven says former midfielder and current coach at Manchester United Darren Fletcher has been an enormous influence, as has Maguire.
‘Darren Fletcher helps me lots in training and matches,’ he said. ‘My first day at Carrington, he spoke with me. I believe he does are likely to help a number of young players.
‘And Harry Maguire also. Before matches, me and Harry have a number of talks on tactics.’
Amorim was delighted with the arrival of Heaven midway through last season, hailing Manchester United’s director of football Jason Wilcox for his work on signing the defender and the teenager’s swift return from ankle injury.
‘I believe once more Jason Wilcox is doing a fantastic job bringing Ayden,’ said the Red Devils boss.
‘I believe these kinds of players are what we’d like. He showed a number of quality and character after the large injury. We wish these kinds of players.’
Manchester United’s pre-season fixtures begin next week after they tackle Leeds United on Saturday July 19 in Stockholm.
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