'I trained with Ruud van Nistelrooy this summer – I want to become Man Utd's next No.9'

Manchester United starlet Joe Hugill is taking inspiration from Ruud van Nistelrooy and wants to become the Red Devils’ next great No.9.

Durham-born Hugill signed with United’s academy in 2020 and, having embarked on a series of loans and pre-season tours, finally announced himself in a friendly this July with a stunning goal against Rangers.

Currently loaned out to Wigan Athletic, Hugill has been mentored by some of his parent club’s all-time great strikers, including assistant to Erik ten Hag, Van Nistelrooy, and former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Now, at 21, Hugill has his sights set on eventually emulating those who have coached him, by leading the line at Old Trafford upon his return.

Arriving at Carrington the same year that star winger Alejandro Garnacho touched down and having emerged as part of the same crop of talent as Kobbie Mainoo, Hugill started his career with Newcastle before switching to rivals Sunderland.

Four years after making the £300,000 move to Manchester, Hugill was handed a chance in pre-season and took full advantage with his viral strike in Scotland.

When questioned about his goal, the youngster compared it to one typical of Van Nistelrooy, the man who had already been helping refine his striking skills.

"He’s just a bit before my time," Hugill began, admitting to MEN how he viewed the Dutch coach. "We knew of him, how he was one of the best finishers in the Premier League.

"That’s what we were joking about when I scored against Rangers, saying that I was watching him the night before. But I’ve really enjoyed working with him, having that figure to look up to was good for me."

Van Nistelrooy supposedly complimented Hugill for his goal, as the Englishman added: "He said how good the finish was, the movement to create the space for me, how composed I was, and I knew what I wanted to do straight away.

"We did position specific on the pitch," Hugill recollects on his work with Van Nistelrooy earlier this summer. "A lot of the 8s running on, creating opportunities for the 9s with the crosses, different types of crosses coming into the box, where he wants the 9s to be. He did his own drills to help the forward players out."

Van Nistelrooy, who has been highly praised for such sessions since returning to Manchester, wasn’t the only ex-United marksman who helped shape Hugill. The manager who brought the 21-year-old to Old Trafford, Solskjaer, also played his part.

"I worked well with Ole, especially with him being a striker as well. It helped me a lot,” Hugill admitted, also citing former United assistants Michael Carrick – now Middlesbrough's manager – and Kieran Mckenna – who is currently Ipswich Town’s head coach in the Premier League after leading them to successive promotions – as other influences.

“I went down to London with them and that was my first time being around the first team for a couple of weeks, so I really enjoyed that,” Hugill added. “Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna helped me a lot as well, and you look at what they’re doing now. You could always feel like they were top coaches."

With such highly regarded mentors, Hugill has set his sights to a similar level. The striker has found the net twice for the Latics in League One so far and hopes to do the same for the Red Devils in the future.

When asked about his aims for this term, Hugill responded: "Kick on as much as possible – to be United’s No. 9 is every young lad’s dream. I always back myself 100 per cent. Always 100% going for something."

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