Tom Heaton was 'really' impressed with Manchester United youngster Rhys Bennett's display against Real Betis.
With the exception of starting David de Gea over Martin Dubravka, Erik ten Hag named an unchanged team from the Cadiz defeat to play Real Betis on Saturday evening, but United started the game slowly and they were devoid of quality.
The first half was also marred by the injury sustained by centre-back Teden Mengi, who was forced off with a hamstring problem. Mengi was stretched off and made way for Bennett, who is Manchester-born and won the FA Youth Cup last season.
ALSO READ: Neil Wood's advice to Garnacho and why he left Man United
Although the first 45 minutes failed to provide much entertainment for the supporters at the Benito Villamarín Stadium, Betis broke the deadlock shortly after the break after executing a clever free-kick routine, which was finished by Nabil Fekir.
Tom Heaton, who had just been substituted on for De Gea, was helpless for the goal, with Fekir finding the bottom corner.
Kobbie Mainoo, Sam Murray and Shola Shoretire also replaced Isak Hansen-Aaroen, Brandon Williams and Anthony Martial moments before Fekir found the back of the net, but those three youngsters were unable to inspire a response to the opener.
United searched for an equaliser but couldn't find a goal and Heaton reflected on the performance after the final whistle. The goalkeeper admitted it was nice to return from a knock and he lauded Bennett, who is just 19 years old.
"It was close, I think I saw him as he had a little look up, he had me scrambling for a second," Heaton told MUTV when asked about a Betis chance. "It was nice to get a little runout, I had a little knock before the break and I got just got fit just before we came away.
It's been a good week in terms of getting some good training. We've got a lot of young lads in the squad at the minute, a good experience against an experienced Betis side. I thought he [Bennett] was excellent actually, I thought he was really good.
"Positionally he was excellent. A few changes with how the manager wants defenders to play and he picked that up really well. I thought he was excellent coming off the bench in the first half, so a really good night for him."
United will return to domestic action against Burnley in the League Cup on December 21.
READ NEXT:
