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17th April 2016
03:27pm BST

It's all the more remarkable when you consider he started the season as an attacker in the Under-21 squad.
"I had the pre-season with the Under-21s. [U21 manager] Warren Joyce helped me very much, particularly in the aspects I was not so good at. He helped me on it and tried to make me a better player. I’m happy he has been able to do that. I played No 10 in pre-season and scored a goal from there as well so I was very happy," said Fosu-Mensah, who believes knowing how attackers think is an advantage for him now.
"As an attacking midfielder, you come into positions where you have to think and think as an attacking player as well. When you go back to being a defender, it helps you think how attackers think – about where they’re moving to and what they have to do before they receive the ball. So it definitely helps your game when you play in other positions. "I think, when you’re young, it’s important you can play in as many positions as you can so, wherever the manager wants you to play, you have more experience in every role."If Van Gaal hangs around he might get his wish. He could be played as a lone striker a la Ashley Young, a creative midfielder a la Marouane Fellaini or a centre-half a la Daley Blind. He's in the best place to get an eclectic education.

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