To paraphrase Martin Keown, it was a chance the former Manchester United man simply couldn’t miss.
Are you sure? We Red Devils supporters watched on in horror as the forward squandered his fair share of goalscoring opportunities from exactly this sort of position during that short-lived loan spell under Erik ten Hag during the second half of 2022/23.
Manchester United‘s 3-0 win over Leicester City comes to mind, for instance. Wout Weghorst sinking to his knees, eyes turned disbelievingly towards the heavens as he missed yet another chance to open his Premier League account in that famous red shirt.
Turn red to orange, however, and Weghorst is as prolific as they come. Seven goals in his last 11 caps. Three in his last three.
And while the targetman‘s inclusion in the national team squad continues to divide Oranje supporters with a taste for something a little more refined, you won’t find anyone daring to question Weghorst’s worth today after he rose from the bench to fire home a late winner during the Netherlands’ nervy 2-1 triumph over Poland in Sunday’s Group D opener.
Former Manchester United man the hero in Netherlands win
“He really scored a ‘striker’s goal’,” Ronald de Boer, a two-time Dutch Footballer of the Year in the 1990s, tellsVoetbal Primeur. “He hits it great. It is really incredible. Wout again, unprecedented.”
After Xavi Simons, Cody Gakpo and Memphis Depay all wasted glorious opportunities, Weghorst needed only two minutes and one touch of the ball to break Poland’s resistance. Reacting sharply to a deflected Nathan Ake pass into the penalty area, the Burnley-owned centre-forward darted to the near post and rattled an instinctive, emphatic first-time strike past Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
“All the substitutes who came on did an excellent job. That is also why we are such a good group,” beams Gakpo, the Liverpool winger and one-time Man United target paying tribute to the Netherlands’ in-form matchwinner (NOS).
“I think we can bring a lot of quality, also from the bench. Today, it was Wout who makes (the goal). Super happy.”
Liverpool duo hail Wout Weghorst
“We have seen, especially in the past two games, that the boys who come off the bench can make the difference,” echoes Virgil van Dijk, Netherlands captain and Anfield colossus. “We need that. I thought the four substitutes made the difference. Fresh faces were needed at the end.
“Wout is of course a player with a lot of quality. He has shown that for months. He is just important. The boys who do not start have to make the difference when they come on.
“He showed it again today, that is what we need.”
Weghorst might have scored only twice for Man United – and none in the Premier League – but there is a reason why the former Wolfsburg ace retains the admiration of many of a Red Devils persuation. The very definition of what it means to be a ‘cult hero’, the arrival of Weghorst – unselfish, disciplined and refreshingly passionate – coincided with Man United’s best run of form in the Ten Hag era.
Lest we forget it was he who assisted Marcus Rashford’s decider in that EFL Cup final victory over Newcastle, Man United’s first piece of silverware in six years.
“He has a character that you don’t see much in the Netherlands; the hunger,” Ten Hag said during his punditry role on Dutch TV. “He is so driven. And I very rarely see that in a Dutch footballer.”
“His drive has brought him where he is now. I think it’s great and I think he is extremely valuable to his team.”