Pellistri set a challenge by Ten Hag

The 20-year-old Uruguayan is yet to make his senior Reds debut after signing from Penarol in October 2020 and he has spent the majority of his time as a United player out on loan, in two separate spells with the Spanish side Deportivo Alaves.

After returning to Manchester, Pellistri travelled on the club's pre-season tour to Thailand and Australia this summer and he impressed when given time on the pitch, scoring our final goal in the 4-0 victory over Liverpool in Bangkok.

Unfortunately, Facundo sustained an ankle injury during the Oslo friendly with Atletico Madrid, which rendered him unavailable for matches until earlier this month.

The winger, who has been capped seven times by his country and was recently selected in La Celeste’s provisional World Cup squad, has been in the matchday squad for our last seven games and regularly trains as part of the first-team group at Carrington.

Now, with Pellistri fit and firing again, Ten Hag wants our no.28 and his fellow young attackers to convince him they deserve a place in the side.

“He was injured, [for a] long period,” Ten Hag told reporters ahead of the visit of Sheriff Tiraspol. “[Against] Atletico Madrid, [he got a] bad injury. So he is now returning.

“We have some young players in the background in offensive positions.

“Quite good competition there and they have to battle for it to convince us, to convince me to be in the team, and he is one of the options.”