Manuel Ugarte is doing what Dan Ashworth said he would do at Manchester United

Few players have benefitted more from Manchester United's decision to sack Erik ten Hag than Manuel Ugarte.

The defensive-midfielder, who joined United from Paris Saint-Germain on the final day of the summer transfer window, struggled for minutes prior to the Dutchman's exit on October 28, making just seven appearances, only four of which were starts.

United spent almost all summer chasing Ugarte in their quest to shore up their midfield, and they reached a breakthrough in negotiations in the closing stages of the transfer window. He signed a five-year deal after United agreed a £42.3million fee with the French club.

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Ugarte was expected to immediately slot into Ten Hag's first-choice midfield and provide the defensive steel that had been lacking. However, Ten Hag was reluctant to pick him, handing him just one Premier League start.

It was revealed by the Manchester Evening News at the end of October that the Uruguayan was Ten Hag's third-choice midfield signing during the summer. However, Ten Hag's exit marked a watershed moment in Ugarte's United career.

He started each of Ruud van Nistelrooy's four games in interim charge, developing a strong bond with Casemiro at the base of United's midfield. It was a partnership that developed over Van Nistelrooy's four games at the helm, with the summer signing producing arguably his best performance in United colours in the 3-0 win over Leicester City prior to the international break.

The 23-year-old won eight tackles - the most a United player ever has in a Premier League fixture since