Magnus Eikrem: The next Norwegian hero at Old Trafford?

Magnus Eikrem has always been a player that has interested me.

I’ve always recognised that he was a talented player even when some wrote him off as too small (he is currently around 5’9/5’10 with a little more growing to do) etc but he has really come into his own in the past year or so and now has a genuine chance to breakthrough from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reserve teams and become a star.

I first wrote this about him last November for Football Fancast and he has carried on on the same path impressing all those who watch him, finishing last season with 4 goals in 14 appearances as well as numerous assists despite his season being cut short by injury. Yet his performances were so impressive that it didn’t stop him still being nominated for reserve player of the year, an award he very well could have won had he remained fit.

This summer Eikrem was linked with a loan move away from the club, possibly to Rangers but according t his handler Jim Solbakken the fact we drew them in the Champions League is why the move didn’t materialise but this hasn’t slowed him down as an solid pre-season and good start to the season sees him again try to force his way into Sir Alex’s first team plans as he did last season when he won a spot in the Carling Cup team against Wolves.

In the reserve match against City last month he set up both of Macheda’s goals despite playing wide rather than his usual central role. His passing and vision have seen him likened to Scholes and it’s easy to see why as he is intelligent as well as technically gifted, passing the ball all over the field at will.

The cards have been stacked against Eikrem, born with a cleft palette and a problem with his nose that affected his breathing, diagnosed with diabetes as well as being deemed to frail yet he has overcome it all and now his football is doing all the talking, shouting down previous naysayers.

In an article on Tom Cleverley last week, Eikrem was the unnamed player I felt was too good for reserve football and whilst it looks like the 20 year old will remain the second string’s captain for another season, his performances could see him finally make his first team debut in the Carling Cup this season, something that would please a number of fans.