Manchester United's James Wilson looking for run in first team

James Wilson: Looking to establish himself in Louis van Gaal's first team plans

Manchester United striker James Wilson is hoping to put his injury-hit season behind him and establish himself in the first team at Old Trafford.

The 19-year-old played 17 times last season but his progress was hampered by a hamstring problem and a dead leg in the second half of the campaign.

And with Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao having left the club, Wilson is keen to put himself into manager Louis van Gaal’s plans.

Speaking to MUTV he said: “I just need to keep training hard. You hear everyone say it. If you want it really bad, you’ve got to train for it.

“You’ve just got to train hard, get fit and stay injury free really. For me, that’s probably one of the big things because I’ve had little injuries here and there. I’d say staying fit is the big one for me.”

Wilson scored two goals last season, the same tally he managed in the 2013-14 season under David Moyes.

And the forward is pleased with how he played in United’s recent pre-season tour of America which included a 3-1 win over Barcelona.

"The tour has been an unbelievable experience for me," he added. “I expressed myself to the manager.

“He knows what I’m capable of and I just needed to show that. I’ve gone out there and done what I could.”