Youngster Keen to Grab 'Great Opportunity' at Manchester United

Manchester United youngster James Wilson has admitted he now has a great opportunity to make his mark at the club and knows he needs to make the most of it.

The 18-year-old, who had scored a brace against Hull City on his Red Devils debut last season, has gone up the pecking order under new boos Loius van Gaal this campaign, after the departures of Danny Welbeck to Arsenal and Javier Hernandez (loan) to Real Madrid in the summer.

The young forward has featured in a few matches for United already this season, including key Premier League matches against Everton and Chelsea, with Wayne Rooney suspended and Radamel Falcao remaining sidelined.

"It's an important time for me. Obviously with those two going - Chicha on loan and Danny getting a move to Arsenal - it's given me a great opportunity. It's going to be really important for me to get the minutes on the pitch," Wilson told the club website.

"It was great being on the pitch being with the players and getting involved. It was brilliant, getting on, it was great."

Wilson still has Robin van Perise, Rooney and Falcao ahead of him in the pecking order as the teenager looks to gain some game time and impress van Gaal. However, the youngster is not concerned about the situation and is confident he will get his chances eventually.

"It's great to be in contention with such names in the world of football as theirs. Obviously with the competition in training and even in the games as well, if I can just get a few minutes here and there, then hopefully I can get my chance further down the line," the player pointed out.

"[Falcao] came up to me and did the clap of the hands as he came off [against everton], and said 'Good luck.' It's great to come on for such a striker like that, a player in the world of football so it was a great experience."