Anthony Elanga can prove Erik ten Hag wrong during Manchester United return

"He's from Scandinavia, he's United's saviour, scoring goals from everywhere."

It didn't take long for match-goers to serenade former Manchester United forward Anthony Elanga at Old Trafford and beyond as they conjured up a rather catchy chant to '90s dance hit Rhythm is a Dancer by German band Snap! With some (ominous) foresight, that song could have been charted to Craig David number Rise & Fall.

Eighteen months after being thrown straight into the deep end by Ralf Rangnick - amid what was a modern nadir for the club - Elanga's number at United was up. The former Academy starlet and Jimmy Murphy Award winner for 2020 is now primed for his first return to Old Trafford as a Nottingham Forest player.

Elanga did not turn out to be the saviour he was billed to be, although perhaps that more in hope than expectation, but his impact on United in the short-term should not go unnoticed. A dramatic late equaliser in the Champions League last-16 game with Atletico Madrid was an obvious highlight from his eight years at the club.

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Although it was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who handed the Swede his Premier League debut, Elanga started to thrive when Rangnick was sworn in as interim manager. He made 14 starts in the top-flight alone between January 2022 and May that summer with two goals and as many assists to show for his efforts.

Elanga also looked to have rescued United in Europe when coming off their bench to net at the fearsome Wanda Metropolitano, but Rangnick's men were unable to complete the job after drawing 1-1 in