Man Utd academic graduate Andreas Pereira poised to replace a big name in first 11

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has indicated he will now solely use Andreas Pereira as an attacking midfielder for Manchester United.

Pereira scored his first Premier League goal for the club to equalise against Southampton in United’s euphoric 3-2 comeback, as Solskjaer recalled the Brazilian at the expense of Fred.

Academy graduate Pereira made his United debut four-and-a-half years ago and had not scored since the September 2015 League Cup third round tie against Ipswich.

Former United manager Jose Mourinho regarded Pereira as a defensive midfielder but the 23-year-old struggled there in the August defeat at Brighton and the draw with Burnley under Solskjaer in January.

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Pereira was played further forward against Southampton and Solskjaer suggested he will continue to play in a more advanced role.

“So pleased for him and so happy for him,” Solskjaer said. “He’s gone through the academy, we know what he’s capable of. He’s got loads of energy, drive, we maybe found a better position for him than as a number six, more of an eight or 10.

“Young kids at the start of their careers, when they get criticism there’s nothing better than seeing them grabbing their chance when they get it.”

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After the game, Pereira said: “It’s my best day and my first Premier League goal after a difficult game, so very, very happy. There were a lot of beautiful goals in the game. [It was] a difficult day for the ‘keepers.”

“When I received [the ball], I saw Luke[Shaw] on my left and thought I would give it him, but it was so nice on my right and I practiced in training the day before, which gave me a lot of confidence, because I put four in the top corner yesterday.

“So today I had a good feeling and went for it.”

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