THEY were Red Devils. Team-mates and flatmates. Now close friends Matty Willock and Sean Goss are ready to do battle in Scotland.
Willock, the 21-year-old Manchester United midfielder on-loan at St Johnstone, has shaken off the illness which ruled him out of the weekend win over Ross County.
Which is timely news for him considering he is desperate to face Rangers who will contain in their ranks a pal of Willock’s who told him to seize the opportunity of a loan spell under Tommy Wright.
“I played with Sean in the same reserve team at Man United and actually lived with him for a couple of years. So we know each other well,” said Willock.
“We shared an apartment and used to travel to training together. We get on well.
“He is a good lad, tidy about the place. He’s a mate and a good player as well. This will be the first time we have ever played against each other. Sean is one of the main reasons I came to Scotland. I spoke to him a few weeks ago and he said how good a move it had been for him coming up to play here.
“He is really enjoying it and said the level here was really good. Sean said it was a great place to play football and a good opportunity for me. It was good to get feedback from someone who was already playing here. Sean warned me about the tempo of games and that it was physical. He was right.
“But we can only learn and improve from coming to Scotland. The quality is high here and it is more physical than Under-21 football and in Holland, where I played for Utrecht. Despite Sean’s warning it was a bit of a shock in my first game against Hearts.
“The first time I got the ball I took a touch and someone smashed me. I knew then I had to be quicker and I really enjoyed it. I realise you have to know what you’re going to do before you even get the ball. I think the game here will suit me.”
Willock impressed on his debut against Hearts and coming off the bench in a 0-0 draw at Celtic Park.
With United monitoring his progress in the matches he is playing for St Johnstone, he is determined to make an impression and ultimately match Scotland target Scott McTominay’s impact on Jose Mourinho’s first-team squad.
“Nicky Butt is in charge of the young players and he spoke to me a couple of days ago,” said Willock. “United give me feedback after games. It’s good to know they are keeping an eye on me. Scott is doing very well and he deserves it. He has taken his opportunity. That is something I look at and I want to do that in future. Will he choose Scotland or England? I don’t know, you’d have to ask him.”
Willock watched United pal Demetri Mitchell score a superb goal against St Johnstone for Hearts and says former Fulham player Goss is one to watch.
“Demetri scored a great goal against us. I know Sean has a shot on him so we don’t want a repeat. I watched the Ross County match at the weekend and the lads were class, playing at real high tempo. The confidence is back after the draw away at Celtic. Hopefully we can put a run together. At Celtic we set-up well and cancelled them out. It was a great tactical performance.
“We’ll need to reach the same level against Rangers. With the form we have been showing we can beat them. It was a great experience for me playing in front of a big crowd at Celtic and it’s games like that and playing Rangers that I came here for.”
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