Anthony Elanga could finally solve Manchester United problem position

In a season of disappointment, Anthony Elanga has provided the ideal antidote for Manchester United fans disillusioned by the direction of their club.

While there has been turmoil on and off the pitch, the sacking of a club legend in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and humiliating defeats, supporters have taken at least a crumb of comfort from their latest academy success story.

Elanga, 19, has taken many fans by surprise with his permanent promotion to the senior side, even though he showed signs of such talent when he ended the last campaign with his first competitive goal against Wolves on the final day of the season.

The Swedish forward always appeared to be behind Shola Shoretire and Hannibal Mejbri in the pecking order, a promising talent, but just one of many being nurtured by the club in recent years.

Hannibal has now joined Elanga in the senior set-up following his international breakthrough with Tunisia and he could make a matchday squad before the end of the month. That is the ultimate goal for Shoretire too, who is a year younger than the aforementioned duo, having turned 18 just last week.

The trio will all be encouraged by the fact that Ralf Rangnick takes such an interest in youth development and it seems like Elanga could well be his last legacy from his interim spell at Old Trafford.

Nine of his 10 senior appearances this season have come under the German coach, and he has been named in every single match day squad since Rangnick took charge, three of those as an unused substitute.

Sources have reiterated Rangnick's admiration for the youngster, and senior players are believed to be impressed by the way in which Elanga handles himself at senior level, showing great maturity for his age while also holding his own.