Anthony Elanga has fallen narrowly short of landing a world record during pre-season training.
The Manchester United youngster enjoyed a breakthrough campaign last term, scoring three times as he continued to receive opportunities under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick. Now he wants to cement his first-team spot under new boss Erik ten Hag.
He's working hard to do so, putting in the extras. That has involved some impressive box jumps with the Swede setting a new personal best. A social media post shows him jumping 63 inches - just over five foot. That is only four inches off the world record set by American personal trainer Chris Spell, who confessed it took months of training to achieve such a jump.
Elanga made 27 appearances last term, proving he had an appetite for the big occasion, scoring in a Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid that secured United a much needed draw. The 20-year-old is not without competition at Old Trafford, which will place further importance on the upcoming pre-season.
Cristiano Ronaldo commands the No.9 role whilst Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho have their eyes on the wide positions, both of which Elanga can suit. The player though is relishing the challenge, insisting the competition brings out the best in players.
He told the club's official website : “Competition is healthy, especially in the environment I am in. I feel like everyone is pushing each other to become the best version of themselves and it shows, even in training. Competition is something you need in a big team like Manchester United. If you want to become the best, you’ve got to compete with the best.”
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Elanga was also quick to make an impression on Rangnick, something he'll be keen to do on Ten Hag. The German boss cited the forward's mentality as a point of difference, stating: “Well, since he is a clear head, since he is a top mentality player. I'm sure he can take and make the next steps, which are also important for him to take.
“It’s not for him an issue of character or mentality. I’m pretty sure, whenever I saw him train or play, even in the first training session the night before the Crystal Palace game, I knew his name but had never seen him play before. So I asked my coaching staff at the time, Kieran [McKenna] and Darren Fletcher: ‘Who is he? I haven’t seen him play before’.
“Since then, he has always been a player who gave his very best, where I could always be assured what kind of level, physical level and mentality level, he will invest.”
