Wilson ushers in new ManU era with double

 

MANCHESTER, May 7 (AP): Manchester United unearthed a potential star of the future and perhaps had one last glimpse of a great of its recent past in a 3-1 win over Hull on Tuesday that kept alive the team's chances of European football next season.

Highly rated striker James Wilson, 18, marked his senior debut for United with predatory strikes in either half, setting the deposed champions on their way to a victory in their final home game of a forgettable Premier League campaign.

Ryan Giggs — at the other end of the age spectrum at 40 — came on for his 963rd, and possibly final, appearance for United in the second half and set up fellow substitute Robin van Persie for the clinching third goal in the 86th.

Giggs, taking charge of his third game as United's interim manager following the firing of David Moyes last month, has not decided whether to take his distinguished playing career into a 24th year next season. And his future as a coach at United is uncertain while the club searches for Moyes' replacement, which is likely to be current Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal.

An emotional Old Trafford also bade farewell to defender Nemanja Vidic, who is joining Inter Milan in the summer after more than eight years at United, on a night that had an end-of-era feel to it.

Wilson, though, offered positive signs for the future as part of a youthful lineup that included another debutant in 20-year-old forward Tom Lawrence.

Addressing supporters in a short speech on the pitch after the final whistle, Giggs said: "You have seen a little glimpse of the future, and this is what this club is about. We never stand still. We always give youth a chance, and we try and play attractive football."

The victory moved United three points behind sixth-place Tottenham in the race for the final Europa League spot available in the league, with one game remaining. United last failed to qualify for Europe in 1990. Vidic began on the bench after accepting a memento from United great Bobby Charlton before kickoff but was a 22nd-minute substitute for Phil Jones, who came off with a shoulder injury sustained in an aerial collision. Giggs said Jones, who was expected to be in England's World Cup squad, had been taken to hospital and that it "didn't look great."

Big things are expected of Wilson, who has played for England Under-16s and Under-19s and has scored 19 goals for United's Under-21 team this season.
And he showed his striker's instincts just in the 31st, reacting quickly to Marouane Fellaini's nod-down from a free kick to slam a left-foot shot low into the net from the edge of the six-yard box.

When he slotted in a rebound from a similar distance after Fellaini's shot was parried out by goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic in the 61st, Wilson was on course to emulate Wayne Rooney's feat from 2004 of scoring a hat trick on his debut.

 

Wilson can bring the excitement
back to United, says Ryan Giggs

LONDON, May 7 (Reuters): Manchester United's two-goal debutant James Wilson can help bring back the excitement to Old Trafford, interim manager Ryan Giggs said after the 18-year-old shone in a 3-1 Premier League win over Hull City on Tuesday.

Wilson, the latest young talent to come off the United production line, showed razor sharp predatory instincts to score a goal in each half as Giggs's side completed a comfortable victory in their final home match of the season. Wilson was one of two youngsters making their first United appearances on the night, along with 20-year-old forward Tom Lawrence, and was the leading light in a three-pronged attack with 19-year-old Adnan Januzaj. The performance of the three youngsters will give beleaguered United supporters hope that better times lie ahead after a nightmare season. The club, who sacked David Moyes late last month after a disastrous 10-month spell in charge, can finish no higher than sixth and are in danger of missing out on European football for the first time since 1990.

"I said when I took over I wanted to bring excitement back. Some of the forward play from the three young lads was brilliant," Giggs said. "We got the young lads in to train with us and they never looked out of place. I wanted to freshen things up from Saturday and they never let us down. James Wilson is not just a finisher, his all-round play is very good and he is exciting."

The sight of United's youngsters tearing into Hull on a night when Nemanja Vidic made his final home appearance and Giggs was keeping his cards close to his chest about his own future, added to the impression the club were ushering in a new era.

Vidic, who is leaving for Inter Milan in the close season, ended his eight-year spell at United with a substitute appearance. "I had so many great times here. It is hard to speak because of the emotions," he stuttered as he stood on the pitch at full-time and addressed the crowd, who chanted his name. "Most important I would like to thank the players, the manager and all the coaches. Thank you for everything and especially to the fans, you have been fantastic to me all these years."