Ayden Heaven, 18, stretchered off on first Premier League start for Manchester United | Football

Ayden Heaven had to be stretchered off after his first Premier League start for Manchester United ended with a worrying injury.

Heaven was handed his first league start for the trip to Leicester City on Sunday evening after impressing from the bench in recent weeks.

The 18-year-old was at full stretch to intercept Jamie Vardy’s cross and deny Patson Daka a great chance to equalise shortly after half-time.

His efforts were applauded by United goalkeeper Andre Onana but there was soon concern as Heaven stayed down following the heavy collision.

The teenager gestured to the bench for assistance and medical staff treated him on the side of the King Power Stadium pitch for around five minutes.

Heaven, who joined United from Arsenal earlier this year, was then stretchered off and replaced by Toby Collyer.

‘Ayden Heaven signalled to the bench straight away,’ ex-Premier League star Clinton Morrison said on BBC Radio 5 Live. ‘Maybe he rolled something but you’ve got to hope the young man is alright.’

Heaven has enjoyed a rapid rise since arriving at Old Trafford in early February, making his first-team debut in the FA Cup defeat to Fulham earlier this month.

A week later he made his Premier League debut, coming on as a second-half substitute against his former club Arsenal.

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim was full of praise for Heaven after that display and rewarded him with two successive starts against Real Sociedad in the Europa League and Leicester City in the Premier League.

‘I think he did really well,’ said Amorim when asked to assess Heaven’s performance against Arsenal. ‘He is really comfortable with the ball.

‘So relaxed, very aggressive and I think we have a very good player there.’

Heaven was highly-rated by Arsenal coaches but only made one appearance for the Gunners before making the switch to Old Trafford.

The worrying injury came after Rasmus Hojlund ended his long goal drought to give Manchester United the lead over relegation-battlers Leicester.

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