Why Facundo Pellistri continues to wait for Manchester United debut

Two years, 13 days, seven squad inclusions and zero appearances. Facundo Pellistri has had a few uncompetitive kicks in a Manchester United shirt, scoring at Derby and against Liverpool in Bangkok, but he remains unused at a competitive level.

Thursday marks two years to the day since Pellistri first warmed the United bench against Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes and he is still waiting to get off it.

Pellistri did start at Barrow at the start of the month for the Under-21s in the EFL Trophy, his third appearance in the competition. An evening at Holker Street is not ideal preparation for a World Cup.

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In spite of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag not utilising Pellistri, the right winger is a full Uruguay international and was included in their most recent squad. Two separate loan spells with Alaves offered exposure, albeit not enough; Pellistri started six times last season.

Yet he has attained seven caps since his debut in January. Pellistri does not turn 21 until December and it is a quirk that, like his compatriot Guillermo Varela, his wait for a United debut has crossed the two-year mark.

United signed Pellistri for €10million from Penarol on deadline day in 2020 and that day - and window - has aged worse than Julian Glover in The Last Crusade.

Edinson Cavani played when he fancied it, Alex Telles peaked on his debut, Amad is on loan at Sunderland and Donny van de Beek was loaned after 18 months. Four loanees and one departure.

Amad and Pellistri, the former left-footed and the latter a rightie, were right-sided forwards to offset the failure to prise Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund. Of the aforementioned quintet, Pellistri was the only