There is a case to be made that the World Cup break has come at just the right time for one Manchester United player.
Hours before the Cristiano Ronaldo-Piers Morgan interview bombshell was dropped on Sunday night, Alejandro Garnacho was the talk of the town.
The Argentine forward scored a late winner at Fulham to clinch a much-needed win with his first ever Premier League goal. The scenes following his well-taken strike showed a togetherness and unity as players and manager celebrated as one.
For the 18-year-old it was a goal that saw him garner plenty of praise - only for the Ronaldo sideshow to then dominate the headlines.
Read more: Most United players believe Ronaldo should never play for club again
Garnacho may well be frustrated at the fact that he now has to wait well over a month before picking up where he left off. But the pause might well be the perfect tonic for him and Erik ten Hag. It allows Garnacho to take stock amid the attention and praise being showered on him.
And with him staying part of the squad rather than joining many of his teammates in Qatar, it gives Ten Hag the perfect chance to work more closely with the youngster over the next month or so.
Garnacho's attitude was, perhaps surprisingly, questioned by colleague Bruno Fernandes recently. The Portuguese said: "He was not at his best at the beginning of the season. On the tour he didn't have the best attitude that he should have had, and that's why he didn't get his chances until now. He's getting his chances because he's training better, having a different attitude and deserving his chances."
Ten Hag has clearly been won round though, and Garnacho's goal against Fulham was his second in the space of four games. He is fast becoming a bigger part of the first team but the Dutchman is keen to keep the youngster's feet on the ground.
Ten Hag said: "It’s only when he stays on the same attitude that he’s working the last three, four or five weeks the process will keep going and his progress will keep going. If not it goes the other way around.”
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