David Beckham inspiration can help Manchester United hit Champions League heights

It wasn’t much of a strike. In fact you could argue the bobbled effort should have been saved.

But in it went and Manchester United had a fourth goal to seal a Champions League group stage win over this week’s opponents Galatasaray. The victory wasn’t enough for United to escape their group but for a teenage David Beckham it was a momentous night. The then 19 -year-old had scored his first senior goal having looked at home on the big stage.

Few that were inside Old Trafford that night could have predicted the rise that would come for the future England captain. But it was a European showing that suggested his place as a United regular wasn’t far away.

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Fast forward nearly 30 years and the Reds again face the Turkish opponents seeking a victory to keep alive European hopes. For Beckham, who was one of a clutch of young players handed a chance by Sir Alex Ferguson in ‘94, read Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho.

The latter scored a sensational overhead kick in the weekend win over Everton while Mainoo produced a star showing in midfield. Both are in contention to retain their places in Istanbul and both will hope to make the kind of impact on the continental stage that Beckham did.

Mainoo has yet to feature in Europe while Garnacho has a smattering of appearances. The teenage pair have the potential to forge successful careers at United after promising starts. Both are talented, technically gifted and tenacious. The next cabs off the United production rank.

The challenge now will be to learn, develop and find consistency. It’s something Beckham achieved