4 Manchester United players who could step up to replace injured Alejandro Garnacho
Alejandro Garnacho is set to spend some time off the field due to an injury sustained during Manchester United’s loss to Southampton.
According to the club’s official statement, Garnacho will be out for “a number of weeks” without a specific return date provided. While the teenager is disappointed to miss out on an opportunity to represent Argentina, his absence will have a greater impact on Manchester United.
In the following paragraphs, we explore four potential alternatives for the team to fill Garnacho’s position in the coming weeks.
Facundo Pellistri
With Alejandro Garnacho out of action, Uruguay international Facundo Pellistri is expected to receive more playing time for Manchester United.
Although Pellistri typically plays on the right flank while Garnacho operates on the left, it’s often been the Argentine who has been called upon by coach Erik ten Hag to make an impact in matches. However, Pellistri was given a chance to start in the recent game against Real Betis and made the most of it.
He will likely have additional opportunities in the coming weeks to demonstrate that he is worthy of a spot in the starting lineup.
Pellistri is determined to prove himself, as evidenced by his recent Instagram post, in which he pledged that his journey with Manchester United is “far from over.”
Anthony Elanga
Anthony Elanga could potentially benefit the most from Alejandro Garnacho’s injury, as it was the Argentine’s emergence that had reduced Elanga’s playing time. Before Garnacho was reintroduced to the Premier League squad in November, Elanga played a total of 288 minutes in the competition, but has only played 133 minutes since then.
Elanga has been a backup player, and his best opportunity for first-team football was to replace an injured teammate. Manchester United’s decision to keep him in January may now pay off. He will need to step up and demonstrate his abilities to get his career back on track, as it has been over a year since he last scored a goal for the club.
Jadon Sancho
Jadon Sancho has recently been utilized in a more central role partly due to the emergence of Alejandro Garnacho as a promising option on the wings. However, with Garnacho out of action, Sancho is expected to feature more regularly on the flanks, where Manchester United will be counting on him to make an impact.
Although Erik ten Hag expressed his satisfaction with Sancho’s performance in the match against Southampton, many supporters were less impressed.
The next two games provide an excellent opportunity for Sancho to showcase his abilities. So far this season, the former Dortmund star has scored five goals, and he has the potential to reach double figures with a strong finish to the campaign.
Noam Emeran
As a wildcard option, Manchester United could consider French youngster Noam Emeran as a potential replacement for the injured Alejandro Garnacho.
Emeran, who is next in line at under-21 level, was given a chance to showcase his skills in mid-season friendly matches in Spain when Erik ten Hag took a look at him.
While Emeran has had an inconsistent season with the under-21s, only scoring once, he has also trained with the first team in preparation for the recent Barcelona match.
Although it may be a long shot, if Manchester United suffer any additional injuries, ten Hag may need to consider at least having Emeran on the bench as an option.
4 Manchester United players who could step up to replace injured Alejandro Garnacho
