Manchester United talent faces his second big Old Trafford test this summer

It's always a key time for young players at Premier League clubs, but Alvaro Fernandez should have an added swagger when he reports for pre-season with Manchester United this summer.

The Spaniard was tested at Championship level in 2022/23, down the road with Preston North End, and passed with flying colours. Fernandez and PNE won't have known a great deal about each other this time last year, but the relationship built quickly and only blossomed the further the campaign progressed.

Ryan Lowe's men ultimately saw their season fizzle out in underwhelming fashion, but Fernandez was a constant bright spark for an otherwise safe and steady outfit. There was a refreshing vibrancy and gutsy fearlessness to the youngster from minute one and for that, the appreciation from the stands was always there.

In his first start - after two lively substitute appearances in the Championship - Fernandez caused havoc in Huddersfield, providing two identical but equally eye catching assists in the Carabao Cup.

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There were some question marks about the time Fernandez would take to settle into life as a Preston player, having had no experience of senior football prior to the loan switch. But his performance in the Terriers rout made it abundantly clear that this kid was ready to go. And that is what made the three-and-a-half week absence which followed all the more frustrating.

The Championship has often not felt too far behind the Premier League, but that gulf is undoubtedly increasing with the pace of the game and individual talent on offer in the top flight far superior. What Fernandez did was bring a dose of that to Deepdale, a level of technique which clubs such as North