While Manchester United have got off to a slow start domestically, young talent Alvaro Fernandez has been attracting plenty of attention.
The 19-year-old joined the Red Devils from Real Madrid back in 2020, but has yet to make a competitive appearance for United's first team. After more than 40 appearances in Premier League 2, though, he has joined Preston North End on loan for the season to get his first taste of senior football.
Fernandez has featured from the bench in North End's first two Championship games, both of which ended in goalless draws. However, when the Spaniard was handed his first start away to Huddersfield in the EFL Cup, he stole the show with a pair of assists.
The first assist came inside 20 minutes, with Fernandez running at Huddersfield right-back Brodie Spencer before rolling the ball across for Ali McCann to find the net. McCann was the recipient for the second assist as well, converting after the left-back made a late dash into the box.
With Preston 3-0 up at the break, Fernandez was given the rest of the evening off as a precaution after rolling his ankle, with Daniel Johnson coming off the bench to take his place. After the game, manager Ryan Lowe was full of praise for the youngster.
"He's an immaculate kid though, isn't he?" Lowe told the media after the game. "Everything about him. He's asked questions on a daily basis, is playing a different role to what he is probably used to at Manchester United - as a left wing-back for us, not left-back.
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"The competition with him and Robbie Brady down that side, let's have it right, he is learning off one of the best - who has played in the Premiership," the manager continued. He is educating him all the time, even before the game and after the game.
"He is a fantastic talent - you don't play for Real Madrid and Manchester United if you are not any good. We knew that when we saw him, we knew he'd bring something different to us and he certainly did that tonight."
Lowe accepted the teenager is lacking in minutes, while reassuring those concerned about the injury "I think at one point he looked a little bit shattered because he hasn’t played much game time," he told pnefc.net. "He’s fine, he rolled his ankle a little bit, it’s more precaution, we waited till half-time and assessed him, he’ll be absolutely fine."
