Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has urged youngsters Alejandro Garnacho and Facundo Pellistri to keep showing him that they deserve the chance to feature for the Reds.
Both players came off the bench in the Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg victory over Nottingham Forest in midweek, and the South American duo will be desperate to feature against Reading in the FA Cup on Saturday. Garnacho has made 18 appearances for United so far this season, registering two goals and five assists.
Pellistri, meanwhile, has featured on just two occasions, with both of his appearances coming in the League Cup. He made his competitive debut for the club in the win over Charlton Athletic earlier this month, having also impressed for Uruguay at the World Cup in Qatar.
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Ten Hag has typically gone strong with his team selection in the domestic cup competitions, but the Dutchman has also given opportunities to some of the club's younger players. The United boss has insisted that he will continue to select players based on merit - saying that everyone must earn their chance.
"I never, never let players get opportunities," Ten Hag told club media. "A player has to deserve opportunities and they’re doing that by their performances on the training pitch, by their performances when they are on the pitch on the match day.
"That’s what I expect and they did quite well. We have seen Garnacho already over a long period and Pellistri is now coming in."
Despite struggling for minutes this term, it appears unlikely that Pellistri will leave the club on loan this month. On Friday, Ten Hag suggested that the Uruguayan - who was involved in Bruno Fernandes' late goal against Forest on Wednesday - would be remaining at Old Trafford.
While the 21-year-old played three times for his country at the World Cup, he has been warned about the importance of not resting on his laurels.
"Now he also gets the experience to be in men’s football," Ten Hag added. "He did some really good stuff and we’re happy with that but also I hope he knows that he has to step up to be often chosen, to be often on the pitch and so by deserving that position.
"Therefore you have to perform every day and every minute you get."
United will be desperate to progress past Reading in their FA Cup fourth-round tie on Saturday night, with the Reds looking to win their first trophy since 2017 this term.
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