After it was confirmed that Tyrell Malacia would miss Manchester United's pre-season tour of the United States through injury, Alvaro Fernandez's eyes must have lit up.
The Spaniard, who joined United from Real Madrid in September 2020, spent last season on loan at Preston North End, producing a series of polished performances for the Championship club.
Gaining valuable first-team experience, he racked up 42 appearances in all competitions, registering a respectable six assists.
It was a campaign that injected both confidence and experience into the veins of the left-back, who returned to Old Trafford at the end of last season with the ambition of forcing his way into Erik ten Hag's plans, similarly to Amad, who also thrived in the Championship last term.