Erik ten Hag has included Facundo Pellistri in the Manchester United squad for Thursday evening's Europa League clash against Omonia Nicosia - just weeks after the youngster was urged to quit the club over a lack of first-team opportunities.
Pellistri, 20, was snapped up by Ten Hag's predecessor, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, in a £10million deal from Penarol back in 2020 following a recommendation from the Norwegian's old strike partner, Diego Forlan.
But Pellistri has struggled to make an impact in the senior ranks since making the switch to Old Trafford. The Uruguay ace did impress, and score, in United's resounding 4-0 win over Liverpool during their pre-season tour of Australia and Thailand, but that has failed to translate into any real first-team opportunities.
That led to former Chelsea and Uruguay star Gus Poyet speaking out, with the 54-year-old warning Pellistri that he would not be given a chance to feature prominently now that Ten Hag has replaced the man who brought him to Old Trafford.
But Ten Hag has now dropped the clearest indication yet that Pellistri is still in his plans by including the youngster in the squad that has travelled over to Cyprus to face Nicosia.
And although it remains to be seen if Pellistri will be given an opportunity to stake a claim with significant minutes against Neil Lennon's side, his inclusion in the squad is a welcome boost as he bids to clinch an unlikely World Cup spot after breaking into the national team set-up.
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Pellistri himself admitted that his Uruguay breakthrough has taken even him by surprise earlier this week. He told ESPN : “If a year ago they told me that I was going to have this present in the National Team, obviously I would not believe it, things happen very quickly and sometimes life surprises you with many things.
"You always dream of the World Cup, but I always say that you have to go step by step, you still don't have to think about the World Cup because there is still time.”
But he understands that his hopes of making the squad that travels to Qatar next month will hinge heavily on whether or not he can force his way into Ten Hag's plans on a regular basis between now the mid-season break.
Pellistri, who had been sidelined with an ankle injury until recently, added: “I am happy to play again, and now Manchester will have an important string of games, so I also hope to get minutes at the club. Erik ten Hag is a good coach, with a very clear idea; I really want to start participating in the team."
