Garnacho could force another Manchester United player to change position

With every game Alejandro Garnacho adds to his blossoming CV he is making it harder and harder for people to ignore him. After successive starts in the Europa League and Premier League, he was rested in the Carabao Cup but still ended up as a headline act.

Manchester United were losing 2-1 to Aston Villa and heading out of the competition at the first hurdle when the 18-year-old was one of three substitutes introduced with just under half an hour to go. Press the fast-forward button and United had won 4-2, with Garnacho electrifying Old Trafford once again.

After scoring in San Sebastian last Thursday, he could only claim a couple of assists this week, but the delicacy and precision of his cross for Scott McTominay to put the cherry on the cake was perfect.

Garnacho had already played a first-time pass to Bruno Fernandes to put United in the lead for the first time and when he was on the pitch he was a terrifying prospect for Villa to deal with. His pace, dribbling and fearlessness marked him out as a dangerous player and he helped turn the tide of the game.

The youngster is the kind of player that can get fans on their feet and there was one thrilling run from inside his own half on Thursday night when he proved just too hot to handle the Villa defence.

The penny looks to have dropped for a player who only turned 18 in July and has been on the end of some tough love at Carrington. His discipline and attitude were questioned by Erik ten Hag and senior players and he was rebuked for twice being late to team meetings on tour, missing out on appearing in all four friendlies as a result.

Speaking after the game on Thursday, Ten Hag again urged the precocious teenager to make sure he stays focused to ensure he has a regular role to play in the first-team squad.

"I think it was good that also when he came on that he showed performance that he has an impact in the game," Ten Hag added. "Quite clear, with two assists, some good dribbles, runs behind, but also some things he has to improve. For instance, when we go for the long ball, don't go for the header with Scott McTominay, go for the second ball.

"So he still has things to learn but it's quite obvious we are really happy with his development, with his performance tonight and he can contribute to this team.

"Can he have a regular role? Depends on how his approach, how his attitude, when he keeps working, keeps this attitude, then it's possible. That he keeps the attitude he wants to improve every day and he's doing the right things in his lifestyle, then it's possible.

"As you can see, he has capabilities that contribute to attacking football, he has something he can break open a really compact defending line. I think all teams who want to attack want to play in an opponent's half, they need players like them, he can outplay them.

"And also, in the final decisions, he can do the right things. Once again, it depends on how his attitude, can he also do the defending stuff, the discipline, when he can do that, it's possible."

Garnacho looks certain to remain a part of the matchday squad this season and even if he doesn't start, he is the kind of game-changing winger every manager wants to be able to call on. He has looked a threat in all three appearances on the left over the past week.

With Anthony Martial back fit and scoring goals, that left-sided role is likely to fall to Marcus Rashford, perhaps from this weekend and certainly when the season resumes after the World Cup. But Garnacho looks good enough to be Rashford's backup and a realistic option off the bench. United need to ensure he keeps getting games to aid his development.

That spells bad news for Jadon Sancho. While Garnacho was again thrilling the Old Trafford crowd, Sancho was absent through illness on the day when it was confirmed he hadn't made England's 26-man squad for the World Cup in Qatar.

Not only was Sancho not included, but nobody was surprised. His exclusion hasn't generated any debate and it wasn't a topic discussed during Gareth Southgate's squad announcement. The reality is Sancho wasn't even close.

That feels remarkable really, given United paid £73million to bring him back to the Premier League last summer after four years of lighting up the Bundesliga. He's failed to live up to that price tag and to the billing of one of the most exciting young wingers in the game.

At the moment Sancho looks to have lost his way at Old Trafford and he can have few complaints if Garnacho is now ahead of him on the left.

For the 22-year-old, his best hope now might be a return to right-wing duties, where he shone in pre-season, offering cover and competition for Antony, who is currently out injured. His chances of regular action on the left of the United attack have shrunk with the emergence of Garnacho, the kind of thrilling dribbler that Sancho himself was expected to be.