A Progress Report on Brighton's Manchester United Loanee, James Wilson

James Wilson is one of the few people connected to Manchester United for whom the emergence of Marcus Rashford is something other than a cause for celebration.

While Rashford has been scoring in the Premier League, the FA Cup and the UEFA Europa League for the Red Devils, Wilson has been plying his trade on loan in the Championship for promotion contenders Brighton & Hove Albion.

His loan team are locked in a three-way battle with Burnley and Middlesbrough for an automatic place in the Premier League. Each sits on 87 points, separated by only by three goals' worth of goal difference. Brighton are the side currently missing out, but the margins are so narrow there is still a great deal to play for in the final two games.

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Wilson has been a somewhat peripheral figure for the Seagulls. He has made 11 starts and 12 further substitute appearances, scoring four times. Three of those goals came in games in which he started.

Those numbers are not particularly impressive, but he is averaging 0.3 goals per 90 minutes in the league, the same rate as Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial at United. He has scored some important goals, too, with all four of his strikes coming in games Brighton either drew or won by a single goal.

His most recent was as far back as March 15, in a 1-0 win over Reading. After the game, manager Chris Hughton said, per Press Association (h/t Sky Sports):

"

I wanted to play James. It was a question of who I played alongside him.

Bobby Zamora was not available through injury and I thought maybe Sam [Baldock] would complement James a bit better.

James has bit stop-start since joining us, but he has been involved and he's getting used to the level of what the Championship is. It was a good, fast attack that led to the goal and it was James' best all-round 90 minutes for us.

"

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His time on the south coast has continued to be fitful since then, with just three starts in Brighton's last seven games. The most recent of those came against Queens Park Rangers on April 2, but Wilson went off at half-time with a groin injury, per Andy Naylor of the Argus.

He was an unused substitute in the Seagulls' 3-1 win over Charlton Athletic on Saturday, but that was likely down to injury rather than choice on Hughton's part.

The Championship was always going to be a challenging league for Wilson. The 20-year-old is wiry and quick rather than physically imposing, and it is understandable he has had difficulty settling. Nonetheless, it has been an opportunity to gain valuable experience that could benefit him as his development progresses back at Old Trafford.

And Brighton have got something worthwhile out of the deal. His goals have played a direct part in 13 earned points. His effort against Charlton on December 5, 2015, which followed a brilliant mazy dribble, is one of the nominees for Seagulls' goal of the season, per 101 Great Goals:

However, there is no doubt it has been a qualified success rather than a runaway triumph.

While he has not been able to make himself indispensable, he has been a useful member of the squad, managing well over 1,000 minutes of league football. That is likely a good deal more than he would have got had he stayed at Old Trafford.

He has been a useful provider as well as chipping in with the odd goal. Though he has no assists to his name, he has averaged one key pass per 90 minutes of league football. 

His dribble against Charlton was not a one off, either. He has attempted 1.6 dribbles per 90, completing an average of one of those—that is clearly an important part of his attacking arsenal.

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Wilson's status in the pecking order at United looks uncertain. It is far from clear he will command a first-team place next season. However, while his Brighton loan may not have ensured a prolonged spell with United, it will no doubt have been a valuable learning experience in terms of his broader career.

Wilson has long looked like a player with a bright future ahead of him, and there have been enough glimpses of quality in his time with the Seagulls to suggest that is still the case.

All advanced statistics per WhoScored.com.