Hull Game Seems Ideal Time for James Wilson to Get Next Manchester United Chance

The way Louis van Gaal tells it, James Wilson was a pivotal factor in Danny Welbeck's controversial summer sale to Arsenal—even if the forward was only a peripheral figure when Manchester United faced Welbeck for the first time last weekend.

Wilson was a late substitute at the Emirates, arriving only after United—by luck, as much as judgment—had already gone a long way to clinching an important three points and had moved into the Premier League's top four; a symbolic if currently meaningless landmark.

For the 18-year-old Wilson (he turns 19 on Monday), it has been a whirlwind few months. Barely six months ago he was handed his senior United debut by none other than Ryan Giggs, as the caretaker boss started him against Hull City at the tail end of last season.

Taking his chance with both hands, Wilson scored twice as Tom Lawrence, another debutant, also impressed in a comfortable 3-1 win over a side that was preparing for the upcoming FA Cup final.

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James Wilson scoring last time Man United played Hull City. #MUFC #MufcVines https://t.co/jVxvGX2Z8Q

— United Vines (@UnitedVines_) November 28, 2014"

Lawrence has since departed, joining Leicester City before being loaned to Doncaster Rovers, but Wilson remains at Carrington, the great hope for the future.

"That is why we let him go," as Van Gaal said, per the AFP's Pete Oliver, via Yahoo Sports, when justifying the Welbeck sale, "because of [Radamel] Falcao but also the youngsters who can fit in and I repeat, that is the policy and that is what I am here to do."

As a result, Wilson can expect to be defined by Welbeck's achievements (and his own in comparison) for seasons to come. A week after facing the striker head-to-head, the youngster faces the prospect of meeting Hull again; this season he has mostly been confined to a smattering of minutes off the bench, but this game could see him make another start.

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Robin van Persie remains woefully out of form, while Radamel Falcao is still a doubt for the substitutes’ bench, let alone a starting spot. Wayne Rooney is in a rich vein of form and remains, as always, almost undroppable.

But it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Van Gaal might give Wilson a chance to show what he can do alongside the England international—and even alongside Van Persie, if Van Gaal decides to stick with the 3-5-2 that beat Arsenal but figures Angel Di Maria will be better served playing in a deeper role.

Van Persie remains the more likely starter, but Van Gaal was keen to stress at Friday's press conference that no player is guaranteed his place in the team.

"Every player has to fight for his position and I shall always pick the best of the players," the Dutchman said. "It has to be a suitable mix."

Asked specifically about Wilson's status at the start of the month, Van Gaal told MUTV (h/t Manchester Evening News): "From what I have seen this season [he is ready to start], but he was also injured a few times. He has already been knocking on the door for a long time."

That start is yet to come, but Wilson seems to be over his injuries. While results have improved in recent weeks, United have still struggled with their cutting edge in front of goal. Van Persie has contributed to that, scoring just three goals this season and being criticised in many quarters for a perceived deterioration in his work rate and sharpness in the final third.

"We have to improve our playing style and beat opponents more easily," Van Gaal stressed. "We are still fourth so I am happy, but we have to be at least fourth at the end of the season, not now."

Hull's plight might give Van Gaal further reason to consider giving Wilson the nod. The Tigers have struggled horribly in recent weeks, with Steve Bruce—a former United captain, of course—facing a certain amount of speculation about his ongoing job prospects.

Bruce does not have a great record against United but is hopeful that might change on Saturday.

"There is not a lot wrong," Bruce said, per Sky Sports. "We have just got to stay with it. We have got a really difficult run of games as we knew we had. Now we are coming to a big, critical part of the season. We have, starting in December, something like seven games coming up in a short period of time, so let's hope we can turn it around."

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Bruce is impressed with the job Van Gaal has already done at his former club:

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Very quietly they are now creeping in - they are now fourth. They've had unbelievable injuries, which they've dealt with. Has he [Van Gaal] been able to field his first-choice 11? They've been wracked with injuries, especially defensively. ... Whether you're Manchester United or Hull, you need your big players fit. I don't think you can judge anything until you get your strongest team fit.

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Those injury issues might be what keeps Van Persie in the team; Van Gaal might decide that his compatriot's struggles have been a byproduct of the team's fitness turmoil and that the goals will flow more freely when United have a more settled lineup.

With Falcao apparently nearing in on a return to action, however, Wilson will hope that doesn't mean he is denied the chance to show he is already the viable attacking option Van Gaal has previously suggested he will soon become.