Erik ten Hag responds when asked when Facundo Pellistri will get chance

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Despite being signed by Manchester United two years ago, Facundo Pellistri is yet to make his senior Red Devils debut.

The 20-year-old scored against Liverpool during Tour 22, but he picked up an ankle injury in the last game of Erik ten Hag’s first pre-season tour as United boss against Atletico Madrid.

The former Penarol youngster has been an unused substitute in United’s last seven games, and the seven-time Uruguay international is certainly knocking on the door.

Despite only making one EFL Trophy appearance for United’s Under-21s during the 2022-23 campaign, the speedy winger has been included in Diego Alonso’s provisional Uruguay World Cup squad, and United’s number 28 looks nailed on to go to Qatar regardless of his lack of game time.

Despite being out of favour during his second loan spell with Alaves last season, Alonso kept faith with Pellistri and he has started six of Uruguay’s last nine matches.

Ten Hag responds when asked when Facundo Pellistri will get chance

Ahead of Thursday’s Europa League game against Sheriff Tiraspol at Old Trafford, Ten Hag was specifically asked in his pre-match press conference whether he felt Pellistri was a long-term option in his squad.

The former Ajax manager responded: “He was injured for a long period after Atletico Madrid with a bad injury, so he’s now returning, so we have some young players that are in the background of the offensive positions – quite good competition there, and they have to battle for it, to convince me [they deserve] to be in the team.

“He’s one of the options.”

Like Pellistri, Alejandro Garnacho and Anthony Elanga are also looking to get some minutes across United’s forward positions.

Garnacho has featured three times off the bench under Ten Hag this season, with his 19 minutes against Real Sociedad being the most gametime the young Argentinian wonderkid has been given.

While Elanga has come off the bench in the last two games having been an unused substitute in the six games prior.

Prior to Antony’s arrival, the Sweden international had started three Premier League games in a row after being brought into the side for the win against Liverpool.