New signing can be the joker in the Manchester United pack this season

The wisdom behind Angelo Henriquez joining Manchester United this season was last week questioned by his former club's sporting director, who argued sitting on the sidelines would do him little benefit.

And it is a valid point, for the chances of the 18-year-old attacker waltzing straight into United's side are slim.

Which does not of course mean he will not feature. If United did not have a plan for him it is unlikely they would have bought him in, after all he is a player they had been actively tracking for four years, he was no spur of the moment signing like Bebe.

He will go into United's under-21 team and start adjusting to English football, and he will be given the chance to show what he can do.

If he is fortunate, early on he may be handed the chance to shine in a League Cup game, and even feature in the Champions League.

As the season goes on, United will quickly have a more detailed idea of how close he is to reaching the level required to play in the Premier League.

The good thing is that right now, little is expected of Henriquez early on, although of course it is hoped he will go onto justify his potential in the long-term.

So anything he can contribute this season to the first team will be a bonus. He is United's joker in the pack, an attacker who can pop up anywhere across the forward line, capable of playing out wide, deep, or as an out and out striker.

He scored an impressive 15 goals in 23 games for Universidad de Chile last season, an impressive strike rate, even if the competitiveness of the Chilean league compared to the Premier League in England is difficult to judge.

He will hope to follow in the footsteps of another signing from across the Atlantic, Javier Hernandez who made an instant impact in his first season at Old Trafford.

Sir Alex Ferguson's attitude has always been, 'if you are good enough you are old enough', and if he feels the Chilean is ready he will throw him in.

Competition for places is intense, with Hernandez yet to make a start this season and Federico Macheda biding his time too, with Welbeck, Rooney and van Persie in front of them.

Which is another reason why too much shouldn't be expected of Henriquez, but if he can make a breakthrough this season with all that competition, it will say everything about how good he is, and give fans plenty of hope for the future.

Opposing teams will likewise not know what to expect from him, and if Sir Alex Ferguson wants to throw in a curveball, Henriquez will be his most unpredictable option, and a brave decision to give him a chance could just see the club reap the benefits.

What do you think Henriquez can achieve in his opening season?

image: © Gordon Flood