Alejandro Garnacho is getting closer to his next breakthrough at Manchester United

Next week marks the first anniversary of Alejandro Garnacho's full debut for Manchester United and few of the club's academy graduates have had such a meteoric ascent in living memory.

Yet in the 14 matches Garnacho has started in for United, he has properly performed to his potential in three of them. There was a crowdpleasing full debut against FC Sheriff in the Europa League, a matchwinner against Real Sociedad the following week and a Fergie Time decider in the FA Cup defeat of West Ham in March.

"I see today another step," Erik ten Hag said after the West Ham win. "I said to him before the game, 'it's time. You have an impact when you come on but now you have to have an impact as a starter'. And I think he is capable of it, so that is the next step he has to make."

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Garnacho is yet to make that step and he has hitherto not fully cut it as a Premier League starter. Garnacho was hooked at the interval against Wolves on New Year's Eve and again in February against Leicester. He did not last an hour with United 2-0 down at Leeds and was substituted in both of this season's first two fixtures.

Garnacho has not walked out onto the turf for kick-off in the league since the damaging defeat at Tottenham almost nine weeks ago. A league recall has been long overdue amid Marcus Rashford's regressive plight, though.

Ten Hag has remained loyal to Rashford, despite one goal in nine starts. The perseverance has exacerbated crowd sentiment towards Rashford, who has audibly copped flak from matchgoers in at least three home games this term.

Rashford's unsuccessful square pass for Bruno Fernandes against Galatasaray