Manchester United outcast Brandon Williams has been outshining Marcus Rashford and the rest of his Red Devils colleagues this season. The full-back was sent on loan to Ipswich in the summer transfer window and is in fine form with the Championship high-flyers.
The Tractor Boys are second in the Championship, seven-points clear of third-place Leeds, having enjoyed a wonderful return to the second-tier. United loanee Williams has been one of their best performers over the last couple of months.
Williams had struggled for minutes under Erik ten Hag and so former United first-team coach Kieran McKenna took the opportunity to sign the 23-year-old for his Ipswich side. The Red Devils academy graduate has excelled during his temporary stay.
Despite being predominantly a full-back, Williams has outscored the under-performing Rashford this season. He took his tally to two for the campaign with a stunning strike against Preston in October.
Williams raced 70 yards with the ball before firing into the net via the foot of the post. The youngster had already opened his account for the campaign with a goal against Huddersfield a week earlier.
Rashford has scored just once for United this season, bagging his only goal against Arsenal in September. The England forward has been unable to continue his excellent form from last term, in which he struck 30 goals.
Williams’ two strikes mean that he is currently outscoring Rashford – and many of his other former United team-mates. McKenna has been impressed by the defender since his move to East Anglia.
“For Brandon to take the game and the moment by the scruff of the neck and produce a great goal was a big moment,” McKenna said after Williams’ goal against Preston.
“He’s getting stronger game-by-game, getting back into good habits as a football player on and off the ball. He’s getting back towards the levels that I know he’s capable of, but more importantly it’s about pushing him past those levels.”
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The Ipswich boss added: “It’s clear to see the aggression and the positivity on and off the ball that supporters can really get behind and that will endear you to team-mates as well.”
Ten Hag might have benefited from keeping Williams at Old Trafford this season. Despite handing him just five minutes of football in the entirety of last season, a defensive injury crisis might have seen Ten Hag turn to Williams over the last few months.
Williams’ versatility means he can play in both full-back positions. That would have been useful for Ten Hag with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw and Sergio Reguilon all injured for periods of the campaign.
