Ayden Heaven’s pre-season redemption at Arsenal will serve the defender well in his recovery from an injury he sustained during Manchester United’s victory over Leicester. The 18-year-old defender made the move from the Emirates to Old Trafford in January for a reported fee of £1million.
While he never made a senior appearance for the north London club, he turned out for the side during pre-season last year against his future employers. It was a nightmare start for the teenager as his early mistake allowed Rasmus Hojlund to open the scoring at SoFi Stadium. However, he didn’t let the error define the rest of his game as he put in an impressive display in what ended up as a 2-1 win for Mikel Arteta‘s side.
His assured performance saw him subject of praise from the Arsenal boss who singled out the centre-back for fighting back after his initial mistake. “Very impressive,” the Spaniard said of Heaven’s display. “At 17, I don’t know how many players are able to do that on a stage like this. ‘He’s lost a duel against one of the strongest and fastest players in the world, it can happen, but the reaction afterwards, the composure, the quality, the body language that he had were all remarkable. I’m really happy with him.”
Heaven will need to summon some of that bravery after he suffered an injury in United’s 3-0 win over Leicester City on Sunday. In what was the first Premier League start of his career, he was forced off in the 51st minute after landing awkwardly following a tangle with Patson Daka.
The defender immediately writhed in pain before signalling to the bench that he would need to be substituted off. In what looked to be an ankle injury, Sky Sports refused to replay the incident as Heaven was taken off the pitch via a stretcher, with midfielder Toby Collyer coming on in his place.
Speaking after the game, United boss Ruben Amorim offered an update on Heaven’s injury as he stated: “It’s hard to know because we have to evaluate during the week. He already played well against Arsenal and Real Sociedad. Today for me was the most difficult game for him because we expect him to relax a bit, but he was so focused. It was clear today my players are at the limit. We are going to use this window to rest and recover, it will be good.
“The feeling is completely different. When we return it will be like starting from scratch.” United fans will have taken some solace in the fact the teen was spotted walking out of the King Power Stadium without crutches, suggesting the injury might not be as bad as first feared. It has been claimed that he was donning a protective boot but was walking without any support. With no time frame put on Heaven’s return, he could return for United’s Premier League and Europa League run-in after the international break.
Content Source: www.express.co.uk