Utd starlet Gomes responds to video of him visiting Nigerian faith healer 🎥

Manchester United youngster Angel Gomes has responded after video footage of him visiting a controversial Nigerian prophet to heal him of injury troubles emerged on social media.

Gomes was 16 and in United's academy when he attended T.B. Joshua's Synagogue Church of All Nations in the Nigerian capital of Lagos three years ago.

He has since made 10 first-team appearances for United and is reportedly close to agreeing a new £25,000-a-week contract at Old Trafford.

In the video, Gomes stands in front of a large congregation at the church and explains how problems with hip, groin and ankle injuries had kept him sidelined.

The video then shows T.B. Joshua, one of Africa's best-known preachers, apparently performing a healing ritual on the teenager.

The devoted followers of Joshua, whose services are broadcast on television, believe holy water can cure HIV and tuberculosis. Joshua himself was estimated to have a fortune of $10million in 2011.

But his critics say the televangelist actually prevents efforts to cure such diseases and illnesses.

In the video, from the church's Emmanuel TV channel, Gomes says: 'My name is Angel Gomes, I'm from Manchester. I'm sixteen.

'I play for Manchester United Football Club. And I've been struggling really with injuries.

'I've been having injuries around my hip and groin which have been affecting me playing. I also suffered an ankle injury not long ago which kept me out for a long time.

'These injuries would come at hard times for me, times when I was having a breakthrough or times when I had to go to a tournament or playing games, these injuries would happen quite frequently.

'I play for Man United, I also represent the England national team under-17 level as captain.

'I've known about the Synagogue Church of Nations for a long time. As my family follow the prophet, my parents are big fans.

'So we though it would be a good time for me to come and be touched by the prophet.'

In the ritual performed on Gomes, particular attention is paid to his legs and feet. At one point, Joshua places his foot on that of Gomes.

After the clips surfaced on Twitter, Gomes responded with a series of posts of his own.

He wrote: 'Regarding the video that has come out from 2016. I am from a Christian family. At the time my mum was a fan of the pastor, and she really wanted me to go.

'I was going through some issues. From the outside looking in it looks crazy, but I was just practising my faith.

'I didn't really need to explain myself but a lot of people was asking me what the video was about.

'I was young at the time and if my parents thought something was best for me I would do it.

'There are far more important issues out there in the world we can tackle.'

Gomes goes on to mention the free school meals campaign led by his United team-mate Marcus Rashford.