Manchester United’s Ethan Wheatley has revealed how Bruno Fernandes promised to set him up for a goal moments before he made his first-team debut against Sheffield United.Wheatley, 18, became the 250th academy graduate to make the step up to United’s senior side when he came off the bench late on Wednesday night with his side 4-2 up against the Blades at Old Trafford.The forward replaced Rasmus Hojlund in the 90th minute – with nine more added on for stoppages.Wheatley has been in excellent goalscoring form for United’s Under-18s this season, netting a hat-trick in a 9-1 win over Liverpool earlier this month and scoring twice against Manchester City in the Under-18 Premier League Cup on Tuesday.The teenager was unable to mark his senior debut with a goal, despite the best efforts of United captain Fernandes, who was determined to tee one up for him.’He pulled me to the side and said, ‘I’ve got nine minutes to try to get you a goal,” Wheatley told MUTV. ‘So I was just trying to get into positions for him and obviously it didn’t come, but hopefully soon.’Fernandes was again United’s stand-out performer on another difficult evening for the club, scoring from the penalty spot before putting his side ahead with a sublime effort from 25 yards out.He also played his part in wrapping up the win, sliding the ball across goal for Hojlund to tap home.While determined to set up another for Wheatley, Fernandes suggested he got ‘too erratic’ as the final minutes ticked by but is confident the youngster’s next big moment will come soon.’At the end of the game I got a little bit too erratic,’ Fernandes said. ‘I tried to give him a goal, because he is a young kid coming through the academy, I know the moment is massive for him and getting a goal in his first appearance would be massive.’I couldn’t give the assist for him but I tried, at the moment I rushed it a little bit too much. ‘If he gets chances in the future he will get his goals too.’
Fernandes Promises Debut Assist to Youngster Wheatley
