Ryan Giggs has been impressed with the rise of Alejandro Garnacho at Manchester United (Picture: Webby & O’Neill)
Ryan Giggs has warned Alejandro Garnacho he cannot afford to waste his next starting opportunity if he wishes to be regarded as more than just an ‘impact player’ by Erik ten Hag.
The teenager’s emergence proved one of the most encouraging aspects of Ten Hag’s first season in the Old Trafford hotseat.
Garnacho ended lingering doubts about his future by penning a new long-term contract earlier this year and it was hoped he would kick on and cement his place in his manager’s starting XI.
The speedy winger started the first two games of the new campaign against Wolves and Brighton, but failed to make an impact and returned to the bench for the comeback win over Nottingham Forest and defeat at Arsenal.
Garnacho came within inches of proving to be the matchwinner against the Gunners when he late effort was ruled out for offside by VAR, and Giggs believes the 18-year-old will have to get used to more time among the substitutes unless he can add more consistency to his game.
Alejandro Garnacho thought he’d scored the winning goal for Manchester United against Arsenal (Picture: Getty)
He told Webby & O’Neill: ‘He’s done brilliantly so far, I think he’s been seen as an impact player more.
‘He started the first few games of the season, probably didn’t produce the performances he was capable of but that was the whole team really.
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‘For me at the moment he’s still an impact player but he’s still young. Next time he starts he has to give the manager no reasons to not play him in the next game.
‘Just like at Arsenal at the moment, he looks like an impact player but a brilliant talent, one that gets you off your feet and one that fans want to see.
‘Now when he does start games he needs to perform form minute one to the last minute.’
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