James Wilson hopes to enjoy an injury-free season and ascend the pecking order of strikers at Manchester United in 2015/16.
Wilson is widely regarded as one of the most exciting prospects in the Barclays Premier League after making his senior debut under the interim manager of Ryan Giggs at the end of the 2013/14 season, before scoring two goals in 17 first-team appearances under Louis van Gaal last campaign.
The 19-year-old Academy graduate recently ticked off another career achievement by flying out to America to take part in his first pre-season tour with the club, before clocking up two 45-minute appearances in the victories over Club America and San Jose Earthquakes.
During an exclusive interview with ManUtd.com in California, on the eve of United’s International Champions Cup clash with Barcelona, Wilson outlined his hopes and ambitions for the year ahead.
Asked if he can impress the manager and put himself in the frame for regular football, Wilson said: “I hope so. I can only show the manager what I have got. He kind of knows my qualities so I have just got to go out on the pitch, show him what I can do and hopefully get that chance to play this season.
“It is tough for the manager with so many players on the tour because everyone has to get minutes, so it was nice to play in both games and 45 minutes was good. I feel fit and I am just hoping not to get injured like last season. It is going to be an important year for me.”
This is Wilson’s first tour with the senior squad and the striker is thoroughly enjoying the experience. “It has been good so far. It is tough for sleeping with the time zones and it took us a few days to get into it, but the training has been good and the weather has been nice for us.
"There are some great facilities here in America. The tour is better than I expected as we are all together and the cohesion in the squad is amazing. We are all getting along so it has been really good.”
Sean Goss was the surprise inclusion in United’s touring squad after catching the manager’s eye in training at the end of last season. Wilson knows the midfielder well from their time together in the Academy and has praised his team-mate's recent move into the first-team squad.
“He is the same as the new signings in that he has come into the squad,” James told us. “Sean did well at the end of last year when he came up and trained with the first team.
"He has just gone from strength to strength since he has been back. Last season did him good to be training with us, so he is going great at the moment.”
Looking forward, Wilson is now hoping to feature against Barcelona when United face the La Liga champions at Levi’s Stadium on Saturday and the livewire is excited to test himself against the best.
“I have just got to go out there and enjoy it and show the manager what I have got,” Willo outlined. “Yeah, I am looking forward to playing against all of the great players and with all of the great players in our team as well. It should be a good match.”
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