Nineteen-year-old defender Will Fish was set to join Manchester United’s pre-season squad in Australia after Axel Tuanzebe departed due to personal issues. Just two weeks ago, United announced that the England U19 stalwart had signed a new long-term contract until June 2025.
Manager Erik ten Hag has already spent time with Fish during the first week of training at Carrington. Fans may question why fellow academy prospect, Teden Mengi, hasn’t received the call-up after playing at a higher level than Fish last season. Although unconfirmed, Mengi could be on the cusp of leaving on loan again this summer.
Even with Harry Maguire’s slight knock likely to keep him on the bench, match minutes may be sparse for Fish. Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane will enjoy the lion's share of game time. Fish’s introduction, however, ensures Ten Hag has a natural centre-back in Fish rather than the make-shift deployment of Alex Telles against Liverpool.
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If the Mancunian does feature in one of United’s forthcoming tour games Down Under, here’s what you can expect:
A keen eye for a vertical ball
Rather than blindly hoofing the ball, Fish represents a modern ball-playing defender. Quick to spot pre-emptive runs from his forwards, Fish fires low long balls. At times, the passes are mis-hit, but the technical side of Fish’s game can be refined over time.
In Ten Hag’s system that prioritises wingers hugging the touchlines, Fish will have ample opportunity to split the field with diagonal long balls. Fish’s performance against Rochdale, for United’s U21s, highlighted his confidence. Despite losing possession 13 times, Fish accomplished 99/111 passes, including 13 successful long balls.
Comfortable in possession
It may be an uncomfortable comparison for United fans, but Will Fish’s style resembles John Stones. Defensively, Fish is yet to prove his ability in the air against the big athletes found in the Premier League. Fish’s composure and comfort on the ball are undeniable, however.
During United U21s 6-0 rout of Salford in the EFL Trophy, Fish provided the nucleus for United’s offensive threat. Calm under pressure from Salford’s seasoned professionals, including Tom Elliot and ex-United graduate James Wilson, Fish consistently executed passes to central and wide teammates.
Stockport stint
Critics will point to the elephant in the room regarding Fish’s brief stint at Stockport County on loan. Fish managed to make just five senior appearances at the Hatters, a side playing in the fifth tier of English football at the time.
Two major contextual factors can explain Fish’s lack of game time. Firstly, the manager who signed Fish, Simon Rusk, was replaced by Dave Challinor early in the season. More importantly, while Challinor set to work building his starting XI, Will Fish was absent due to international duties.
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