Manchester United’s 2018/19 season has been more stop than start so far, but Daniel James has hit the ground running and not looked back.
And the Wales forward is confident enough to put his hand up for the No9 role if required, as United’s other forwards continue to toil through injury and poor form.
Jesse Lingard limped off in the drab 0-0 Europa League draw with AZ Alkmaar on Thursday, adding to an injury list that has seen Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial’s names included at various points this season.
James has managed to avoid the muscular injuries plaguing the club, which has left options short up front – with 18-year-old Mason Greenwood at times the only recognised striker in the squad.
But the former Swansea man, who played up front for a short stint during the 2-0 defeat at West Ham last month, believes he would have no problem slotting in to that forward berth if called upon on a regular basis.
“I played more on the left at Swansea but up front and on the right too,” James, who has scored three goals in nine appearances, told the club’s website. “It’s important to be versatile in all three positions because you never know when you need to be called upon.
“We might have an injured No9 and I might need to go to play up there, so I need to be ready to play in all three roles.
“I do enjoy coming inside from the left. I can go down the line and cross with my left, or go inside but, for now, I think it’s just about sometimes scoring a few by coming inside means people are going to be wary of that. So it’s about mixing my game up.”
