James Wilson Learning from Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie

Manchester United youngster James Wilson's is continuing his surge towards regular first-team appearances by picking up tips from the club's glittering array of strikers including Wayne Rooney and Radamel Falcao.

The 19 year old, who scored his maiden United goal against Hull City last season, has made four appearances this term under Louis Van Gaal who says the England youth international is "knocking on the door" of a regular place in the first team.

Wilson has been fortunate enough to train with the full United team since March and has since been exposed to the talents of the club's forward line, with the striker claiming he has the perfect surroundings to add to his footballing education.

"Going into training with them is obviously a great experience but on the other hand, it's a big competition if I'm going to be breaking through into the first team," he told United's official website. "It's tough because they're all renowned for scoring goals at such a high level.

"It's great to play with the players. The intensity is at a higher level but you get plenty of rest in between so you can keep repeating the sessions over and over. It's good. You have to think a lot more quickly than normally but in the end you get to that level and the thinking just comes naturally.

"There's always someone coming at you or doing something so you always have to be aware of your surroundings, maybe a bit more than you have to in the reserves or the Under-18s. You certainly have to have your wits about you if you're going to train with them on a regular basis."

Though Wilson continues to star with the club's Under-21 team, substitute appearances against Everton, Chelsea, Manchester City and Crystal Palace have added to the perception he is being prepped for the future role leading the United attack.

The England Under-20 international has been taking notes from each of United's strikers, Falcao, Rooney and Van Persie, and says he is trying to incorporate their individual traits into his own game.

"Wayne is the captain so he's very verbal and you can go to him for advice," he said. "You can learn things from Robin and Radamel that you probably could also learn from Wayne but it's mostly within a game.

"So if you do something that isn't particularly correct in a game, they'll tell you what you could have done instead and next time you can learn from your mistakes.

"The movement is very important in the game as a striker because you have to get away from the defender. You can watch them in the games and in training every day so you can just learn from them and then do what they do when you find yourself in the same situation."