“He’s really comfortable on the ball,” added Lee Sharpe, a star of United’s early 90s sides. “He’s quick, competitive and plays it simple. He looks like he could be a proper player and it’s great that he’s got Harry Maguire to his side, Scott McTominay, Fred and Marcus Rashford around him. You need that as a young player and I speak from experience, but if he gets games then he’ll get better and stronger.”

Williams is a right-footed left back like former United and Irish international full-back Denis Irwin, because he switched sides at under-16 level at the suggestion of coach Kieran McKenna. Williams had the highly rated Ethan Laird ahead of him at right back.

Of all his young players, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rates Williams along with striker Mason Greenwood as the ones most likely to succeed at Old Trafford.

“Brandon was excellent,” said Solskjaer after United had defeated Brighton 3-1 to jump from 14th to seventh in the Premier League. “He’s played well before but you don’t know how he’s going to react. I told him on Thursday to just look forward to this one. I thought it was more fair for him when he’s playing his first game to give him a rest. He’s done nothing wrong since he came into the team so he’s making it hard for me to leave him out definitely.”

Solskjaer was equally effusive in his assessment after Williams’ European debut in a dreary draw at AZ Alkmaar in September.

“You won’t see a better full debut from a full-back anywhere,” he said. “The boy is just going to improve and improve. He’s got the right mentality. I’m very pleased for him. Top-class, absolutely top-notch.”

In Belgrade in the next Europa League away game, Williams was United’s best player, providing the game’s decisive moment as he drove towards goal, as he had been doing so effectively for the under-23s all season, before slowing down and drawing a shove and then a trip which led to a penalty.

“Brandon is a boy who works so hard,” goalkeeper Sergio Romero told this writer after the game. “He trains well. He doesn’t give presents to any other player. Every time he had the ball he wanted to move forward and he won the penalty which helped us win the game.

“The older players have to help the younger ones but Brandon has the quality to play for United. It takes time to adapt – a young player cannot be expected to play at a high level every week.”

Except Williams has yet to have a bad game for the first team and he’s impressing off the pitch also.

Williams is forceful and feisty in training. His cousin is Zelfa Barrett, an English and Commonwealth Champion boxer at super featherweight. Williams grew up around Harpurhey, a working-class area of north Manchester, which gave the world legendary players Brian Kidd and Nobby Stiles.

In United’s best performance of the season, Williams received a yellow card for a high challenge which was subjected to VAR to see if it was a red. It looked as bad as when he launched Chelsea’s Hudson Odoi towards Fulham Broadway recently, but Sunday’s yellow was about the only stain on a superb performance where he almost scored his first goal in the 71st minute.

Solskjaer has given debuts to four teenagers since he took charge last December but not all have looked as comfortable in the first team.

Williams received a standing ovation when he came off for Marcos Rojo after 90 minutes. One of those applauding heartily was assistant manager Mick Phelan. Williams’ attributes are a good fit for what Phelan thinks a Manchester United player should be. Nobody should get carried away. Williams is only 19.

Young, home grown, Mancunian and very talented, no wonder he’s got United fans calling for him to be given more starts. Solskjaer, however, is determined not to rush the latest product of United’s revived youth system.