Two quirks of fate have given young Uruguay World Cup star Facundo Pellistri an unexpected chance to make an impression at Old Trafford, and no-nonsense manager Erik ten Hag has urged him to take it quickly.
Winger Pellistri was close to joining Watford on loan in January but United needed assurances about Jadon Sancho’s availability after his mid-season absence before they would sanction it – and the fixture list placed Sancho’s comeback game against Nottingham for February 1, 24 hours after the window closed.