Manchester United need to give Alvaro Fernandez what he deserves ahead of transfer deadline

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.

Therefore, Malacia's injury ahead of the tour of the US immediately lifted Fernandez up the pecking order and secured him a place on the plane, joining fellow left-backs Luke Shaw and Brandon Williams in making the trip across the Atlantic. The 20-year-old, however, may have been left thinking he'd had a wasted journey by the time he stepped foot back on Manchester tarmac at the end of the trip.

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He featured in just one of United's four fixtures in the States, that being the 3-1 defeat to League Two side Wrexham that was overseen by the club's academy players. Fernandez, despite being on the losing side in San Diego, was one of the Reds' standout players, providing an excellent assist for fellow countryman Marc Jurado to score.

Fernandez, however, played