It has been a tough start to the season for Brandon Williams. The youngster has not played a single minute of first team football in September or October.
For a player who started both the FA Cup and Europa League semi-finals, it is a step down to be watching from the sidelines.
This was always likely to be the case once Luke Shaw returned from injury, and in his one appearance for the under-23s, Williams featured at right-back, suggesting he is being considered as a back-up for Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Yet even with Alex Telles out with illness, Williams could not get a look in.
Telles’ imminent return looked set to close the door on his at left-back, until Luke Shaw’s injury.
Shaw suffered a hamstring injury against Everton and was substituted. Williams was not on the bench and Axel Tuanzebe had to fill in.
So what next?
New signing Alex Telles has a chance now to really kick on in the left-back position, without Luke Shaw’s recent improved form acting as a complication.
United sought out Telles in the summer and after an illness-interrupted start at Old Trafford, he is finally ready to kick on.
But fortunately for Williams, he stands a better chance of getting some game time in over Telles than he did with Shaw over the next month.
The first reason for this is Telles’ long haul trip to Brazil on international duty. He is due to play two matches for his country.
So this could give Williams a little edge for the first match back at home to West Brom.
Then you have to wonder, whether Telles will be used on the same week to week basis Luke Shaw was.
Not only is he recovering from injury, he is adjusting to a new country, still to make his Premier League debut. It may be naive to believe Telles will just start 100 per cent of games while Shaw is out.
So for Williams, 20, his season has a lifeline, at least until Luke Shaw is back.
He has been unlucky so far this season. In two Carabao Cup matches he has kept two clean sheets and won one penalty. His chance may soon be coming.
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