Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim said he ‘really likes’ Ayden Heaven due to the player’s incredible attitude.
Heaven produced a masterclass performance in United’s 1-0 win against Newcastle United on Boxing Day.
Patrick Dorgu delivered a moment of magic in the 24th minute to score what proved to be the winner for the Red Devils.
They were put under a lot of pressure in the second-half by the visitors, but Amorim’s men held out to secure a much-needed victory.
Heaven won all of his aerial duels and made eight clearances. The 19-year-old revealed that he had not played in the centre of a back-three defence before joining United.
However, he stepped up to take the role after injuries to Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire. Amorim has praised Heaven.
“I really like Ayden,” he said. “He is really humble. Maybe because it was hard for him to get at this point.
“He was in Arsenal. He was not playing and then arrived here. He had the opportunity. So he can value every moment in every training.
“He worked really well. He was not playing. Maybe he was the centre-back with fewer minutes. And he was training really, really hard.
“Then, he doesn’t make any excuses. Sometimes you give him a direction for Ayden, and he just says ‘okay, I understand’. And sometimes that detail is very important.”
Heaven joined United from Arsenal in the last winter transfer window for a fee worth around £30 million.
He has started all five Premier League matches in December, and has averaged 2.1 ball recoveries, 5.7 clearances and 0.7 tackles per game.
Heaven is playing so well that it is hard to see him lose his spot even when De Ligt and Maguire return from injury.
Stats from Sofascore.
