Scouting Manchester United’s 19-year Old Midfield Target: “The Next Paul Scholes”

According to the Mirror, Manchester United have been scouting 19-year old Southampton midfielder Harrison Reed. The flame-haired youngster has barely been in the news and has been under the radar for quite some time now.

However, he has already made his debut for the Southampton’s senior team, having made five appearances for Mauricio Pochettino’s side. Four of those five appearances have been in the Cups this season, where he has mainly featured as a late substitute. His only start came in the 2-1 defeat at the hands of Sunderland in the League Cup back in December.

He also made his league debut in the same month, coming on as an injury-time substitute in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City. The midfielder has also featured on the bench in almost all of the Saints’ games in December but failed to get any playing time.

Reflecting on a memorable day after his first full Saints debut in the Capital One Cup earlier this month the youngster, told the clubs official website:

“From the Tuesday when I found out I was starting, the nerves set in but all the boys were great. To walk out with the First Team at the Stadium of Light was a dream come true.

“All the boys were amazing, and the management staff. I couldn’t have asked for a better set of lads to make my first start with.

“It was nice because away from the dinner table I could go into other rooms and talk to the likes of Prowsey (James Ward-Prowse) and Calum [Chambers] about how they felt in their first starts. They helped me out, which was really good for me.

“The manager and assistant manager spoke to me before the start and just told me to keep possession and go from there. They said ‘play how you train’. Obviously I was nervous but they told me to perform like I do daily.”

The highly-rated teenage midfielder is already being tipped for the top and comparisons between him and United legend Paul Scholes are being made. Reed is the latest product of Southampton’s youth set-up which has produced the likes of Gareth Bale, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott and Luke Shaw.

Reed has found most of his playing time at the U21 level in the last couple of seasons. He has made 5 appearances in the U21 PL Elite Group, scoring one goal, while he has made 11 appearances in the U21 Premier League this season, having scored none but created one goal.

The youngster is focused on his football and is adamant that he will be remaining grounded as he looks to continue to perform for the Under-21s, along with hoping for opportunities at senior club level and on the youth international stage.

When asked how he would approach another First Team chance, the central midfielder responded:

“I think I’d go in with the same mindset – I wouldn’t be over-confident. Obviously I’d still be nervous. I think I’d feel like I could produce a lot more and express myself.

“I’m going to keep working hard for the Under-21s and when I get my opportunity to train with my First Team I’ll do my best to impress. The FA Cup is coming up, so I’ll look to get into the squad for that.

“You see Sam Gallagher on the bench in the Premier League – that’s an aim for me. I’m just going to keep working for the Under-21s and see where that gets me.

“Calum’s been in with the [England] U19s and that’s my age group – Matt Targett as well – so I’ll be looking to keep performing for the Southampton Under-21s.

“I know the England scouts come to watch our games. Hopefully I’ll impress them and get some international recognition like the others.”

Reed has recently penned a professional deal with his club and like the very promising Luke Shaw, James Ward-Prowse and Calum Chambers, Reed would surely not be available on the cheap for the reigning Premier League champions.