After scoring two goals in the space of just five days during pre-season last July, Anthony Elanga soon became a recognisable and popular figure for Manchester United's supporters.
After stepping off the bench to score a consolation goal in United's surprise 4-2 defeat to Championship side QPR at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, the 19-year-old was rewarded with a starting berth for Brentford's visit to Old Trafford just four days later, as United stepped up their preparations ahead of the start of the new Premier League season.
With 30,000 fans in attendance at Old Trafford - the largest crowd since the beginning of the pandemic - Elanga wanted no time in ensuring they were soon on their feet, netting a superb volley from inside the penalty area after expertly connecting with Aaron Wan-Bisska's precise cross from the right.
On a night which featured three outstanding goals, as United and Brentford shared four equally between them to draw 2-2, Elanga announced himself to the Reds faithful for the first time, with his only other Old Trafford outing coming behind-closed-doors in a 2-1 defeat to Leicester City in May 2021.
Although United had bolstered their wide areas just days before the stalemate with Brentford with the signing of long-term target Jadon Sancho, there was genuine optimism amongst the Reds' supporters that Elanga would become a familiar name within the matchday squad as the campaign burst into life.
That thought was only further escalated when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer waxed lyrical about the Swede in his post-match press conference after the draw with Thomas Frank's side.
Solskjaer, donning a smile, said: "He's giving me a great problem, if you like.
"Players who score goals and have that enthusiasm and energy… we want to play a pressing game and there are no frills [with Elanga].
"If you asked him at half-time to run over to the cricket ground and get us a drink, he'd do it, because he's that type of lad and that's the type that has been brought through the academy, and these are the boys you love to see do well.
"If they give you reasons to like them and they give you reasons to play them, then you'll have to play them."
Solskjaer added: "He works so hard, he's always smiley, bright, asking what more he needs to do, he's so hungry to improve and get better. He can play wide left, wide right, up front, so anywhere along the front line.
"He's going to be an asset."
Solskjaer was right. Less than seven months on from scoring in nothing more than fitness-building friendlies against two west London clubs embarking on a new season with contrasting ambitions, Elanga has scored the most important goal of his career to date, coming against one of football's biggest giants in European football's premier club competition, no less.
His goal in the latter stages of United's 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium on Wednesday evening not only proved to be a pivotal strike in the Reds' season, but it was also one that optimised what he is all about; hard work, dedication, being fearless and wanting to put a smile on his and everybody else's faces. It was everything that Solskjaer admitted to.
As he raced through on goal underneath the Madrid night sky, you prayed that he would get his crowning moment. It arrived and you could not help but smile as he raced away to celebrate his first-ever Champions League goal and the proudest moment of his career so far.
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand, speaking on BT Sport on Wednesday evening, hit the nail on the head.
"He plays with no fear, goes out there and all he wants to do is impress," Ferdinand said. "He is desperate to go out there and put his name in lights. He is desperate to come off the pitch and get a pat on the back - and he will do anything to do that."
Considering Solskjaer said Elanga was the type of character that would do anything asked of him, it is clear that the Norwegian knew what he was all about.
Whilst it does automatically raise questions about why Elanga was restricted to a paltry 17 minutes worth of first-team football between the start of the season and the point of Solskjaer's sacking in November, the Norwegian knew the winger would prove his weight in gold.
Young and inexperienced he may be, but Elanga's lack of fear and determination to succeed is already disguising that unnecessary concern.
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