Paddy McNair Is Making the Most of Testing Circumstances at Manchester United
Manchester United have won all three games that Paddy McNair has started at centre-back this season. The 19-year-old from Northern Ireland, called up to the national team this month for the first time, has played excellently in testing circumstances.
McNair joined United’s academy as a midfielder from Ballyclare Colts in 2011, but injuries and suspensions saw him debut in defence against West Ham United. Since Marcos Rojo was United’s only senior centre-back available for that game, manager Louis van Gaal had to partner him with either Tom Thorpe or McNair.
Thorpe, a natural centre-back and captain of the club’s U21 side, seemed to be the obvious choice. But Van Gaal opted to play McNair.
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The Northern Irishman’s composure on the ball, owing to the fact that he was once a midfielder, perhaps swayed the decision in his favour.
McNair appeared unfazed on his debut against an energetic and dynamic West Ham side. An extraordinary diving header, clearing the ball from inside his six-yard box, was a standout moment and ensured that United held on to a 2-1 lead.
A week later, McNair—a full 22 kilograms lighter than Everton’s Romelu Lukaku—outfought one of the Premier League’s most physically impressive players as United won consecutive games for the first and only time this season.
Despite playing in the absence of three first-choice defenders, McNair was outstanding in his first two games.
In keeping with United’s defensive problems this season, McNair picked up a hamstring injury and missed draws against West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea.
He returned for the Manchester derby, however, forming one of the most makeshift centre-half pairings in Premier League history with Michael Carrick when Chris Smalling was sent off and Rojo dislocated his shoulder.
It came as no surprise that the duo couldn’t prevent Sergio Aguero from scoring, and the Argentinian’s left-footed strike sealed all three points for Manchester City.
For the second time in his first three games, though, McNair played in a United side that was down to 10 men.
With Jonny Evans, Phil Jones, Rojo and Smalling unavailable ahead of United’s game against Crystal Palace, Van Gaal had a tough decision to make.
Known to favour having one left-footed centre-back and one right-footed centre-back in defence, the Dutchman had to choose between a Carrick-Tyler Blackett and McNair-Daley Blind partnership. That he opted to play the latter was a credit to McNair.
An emergency centre-back in his first two appearances and an enforced substitute in the next, McNair played with his third defensive partner in four games against Crystal Palace.
In the space of four games over six weeks, McNair has debuted for United’s senior team in difficult conditions. It would have been understandable if he was therefore nervous as a result.
Instead, he’s looked remarkably composed and confident enough to carry the ball out of defence and initiate attacks. That’s not just a description of the way McNair has played, but a fairly accurate account of the role Van Gaal expects his centre-backs to play.
Much like Blackett this season, it’s McNair’s willingness to get United on the front foot that is so impressive for a young and relatively inexperienced defender.
As United prepare for eight games in a little over five weeks, starting with Arsenal on Saturday, Van Gaal’s injury-hit squad will be tested.
Jones, Evans and Smalling will all likely come back into the fold at some point, but McNair’s assured performances in recent weeks mean he will be in contention for a starting spot.
In his first game in a United shirt, he was part of a 10-man side that had to hold on to a one-goal lead for over half an hour. In his next appearance, he played brilliantly as a depleted United scraped past Everton.
Then, in a tense derby atmosphere where United once again had a man sent off, he held his own against one of the world’s best attacking teams.
It was only in his fourth and most recent appearance that McNair had a relatively easy time of it, but even then he was playing in a defence that consisted of two midfielders and two 19-year-olds.
The point is that, despite the unenviable circumstances under which McNair has had to play his first few games of senior football, he has impressed and not looked out of place.
It’s hard to imagine he will face a more difficult challenge than he already has this season, which is why his bright performances bode well for the future.
All statistics via WhoScored.com.
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