Manchester United secured their fifth win in six games under Michael Carrick against Everton on Monday with one Red Devils star in particular catching the eye of Gary Neville
Gary Neville
Gary Neville has praised Senne Lammens for his first season with Manchester United(Image: Sky Sports)
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Gary Neville admits that he might have got it wrong on Manchester United’s signing of Senne Lammens. The Belgian joined the Red Devils in the summer for £18m from Royal Antwerp as part of a major reshuffling of the club’s goalkeeping department.
He has enjoyed an impressive start to life with United, having only conceded 28 goals in 22 games. Lammens turned in another eye-catching performance on Monday evening as Michael Carrick’s side beat Everton 1-0 at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
United icon Neville gave his verdict on Lammens’ performance and admitted that his early worries over the Belgian’s arrival might have been misguided.
Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “The goalkeeper, I thought, was my man of the match tonight - not necessarily because he made loads of amazing saves, but everything he did he just did really calmly and well.
“The tip over the bar at the end, there was a shot that just bounced in front of him and he just held it, and then Everton had 10 corners. He didn’t deal with every single one but he dealt with a lot of them, and I think having a goalkeeper of composure who just does his job calmly, isn’t frantic, isn’t sort of rushing around, I think makes a big difference in moments like that when you come into a place like this and they’re putting enormous pressure on you.”
Neville added: “I’ve said it before, people get tired me saying it, I do think [the goalkeeper] is the most difficult position and most scrutinised position in English football.
“I had my concerns when he came in, I thought: ‘Why would you take a chance with a goalkeeper who’s young, who’s not got the pedigree, he’s played in a different league, he’s going to come to Manchester United and it could eat him up’.
Senne Lammens
Senne Lammens shone in Man United's win vs Everton(Image: Getty Images)
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“It is early, but he looks like he’s got the temperament and he’s got the technical quality, he’s doing the right things - he holds the ball when he should hold it, he punches when he should punch, but even when he punches it’s not one of those wild punches - everything seems under control.
“This kid, he’s come in and I really have been impressed with him. He looks like he’s got a big, big future early days.”
Lammens, 23, will be aiming to extend his positive recent form in United’s next outing. Carrick’s side are next back in action on Sunday as they welcome Crystal Palace to Old Trafford.