Alejandro Garnacho is making incredible progress at Manchester United.
The Argentine is only 18 but on his full Premier League debut on Sunday he was United's best player. That may say more about his teammates than it does about him but it remains an excellent achievement for a player so young who is making great strides in his career.
Erik ten Hag's side slipped to a 3-1 defeat by Aston Villa but Garnacho was the only highlight. He was United's best forward in a front line that included Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcus Rashford and forced a smart save out of Emiliano Martinez which was the start of United's brief threat of a comeback.
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Garnacho brings a spark to the forward line, a low centre of gravity that sees him glide through the pitch. A fearlessness on the ball that brings fans to life and takes the side forward, creating a possibility that anything could happen.
He remains young, of course, and his raw talent still needs to be refined. He needs to build up the strength and stamina to be effective in the latter stages of a game in the intense Premier League, too, but his potential is clear to see.
His display at Villa Park came just a few days after an even better one against Real Sociedad. Garnacho's excellent goal was the winning strike but it wasn't enough for United to top their group. Now Barcelona await.
What makes Garnacho's last two displays even more impressive is that he has performed so well despite being in a flat front-three. Against Sociedad and Villa respectively, Bruno Fernandes and Rashford have been in unfavoured positions on the right so their poor efforts are understandable but the man leading the line has no such excuse.
Cristiano Ronaldo has made his way back into the team after his refusal to come on at Tottenham but he hasn't justified his inclusion and is only playing due to a lack of options. The Portuguese has been a statue in the centre of attack since he returned to Old Trafford but at least last season he was still producing in front of goal.
That is no longer the case and chances he used to finish with ease are now ballooning into the stands and sending fans into evasive action. His static nature and lack of energy blunts the forward line and negatively impacts those around him.
If Garnacho was shining despite those limitations, it would certainly be interesting to see how he fairs with a more dynamic striker to play alongside. Which might just happen on Thursday.
United face Unai Emery's side again in the Carabao Cup and United will certainly be looking to exact revenge on Villa. Garnacho has done more than enough to get another chance to shine, this time at Old Trafford.
But this time it could be Anthony Martial who leads the line rather than Ronaldo. The Frenchman returned off the bench on Sunday after his third injury lay-off and Thursday offers an opportunity to get some valuable minutes under his belt before the World Cup break.
The Frenchman has been great on the rare occasions he has played this season. Not only for his goals but his brilliant, intricate interplay with his fellow forwards, which could be of massive benefit to Garnacho.
The exciting youngster has already done well with his chances, but playing alongside Martial could unlock his full potential.
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