There have been over two years, 801 days to be precise since Facundo Pellistri signed for Manchester United from Penarol for £9million in October 2020, but the forward is yet to play at Old Trafford, despite spending that much time at the club.
Pellistri has watched from the stands, he's watched from the bench, but he hasn't stepped foot onto the pitch at Old Trafford, or any other pitch to make his debut, for that matter, although his patient wait might finally be rewarded next week.
United play Burnley in the League Cup at Old Trafford on Wednesday 21 December and that fixture has been earmarked as the game Pellistri could make his debut in, with Erik ten Hag's first-team options only just returning from the World Cup.
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It's understood the United players who were eliminated from the World Cup at the quarter-final stage are expected to return to training on Monday, which means they will have just two days of training before the Burnley match on Wednesday.
There were nine players, Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, Marcus Rashford, Casemiro, Fred, Antony, Diogo Dalot, Bruno Fernandes and Tyrell Malacia who departed at the quarter-final stage and it remains to be seen whether any of those will start next week.
Dalot, Fred and Malacia were the three players to record the fewest minutes at the World Cup and that suggests they could start, with the latter seeming the most likely to play against Burnley after falling to make a single appearance in Qatar.
Regarding the attacking options for Burnley, Jadon Sancho continues to be unavailable with no deadline set for his return, which means Anthony Elanga, Anthony Martial and Alejandro Garnacho seem the likeliest front three, considering they started in friendlies against Cadiz and Real Betis last week, while Rashford, Antony and Pellistri should all make the bench.
Christian Eriksen and Pellistri, who did not progress from the World Cup group stage with Denmark and Uruguay respectively, have already returned to Carrington, though, and that suggests Pellistri stands a good chance of making his debut.
Elanga should start the match on the right but he'll likely be replaced in the latter stages of the game, leaving the door open for Pellistri to finally play at Old Trafford. Antony, who has become first-choice at right wing, unsurprisingly, will only have two days of training under his belt and that should mean that Ten Hag could turn to Pellistri, not Antony, for an impact from the bench.
Pellistri has said 'it was an absolute pleasure' to have Robin van Persie around in training this week. Van Persie scored on his debut against Fulham at Old Trafford in August 2012 and fans will hope the winger is capable of doing the same against Burnley.
The youngster scored against Liverpool on the pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia and he made a cameo against Atletico Madrid in Oslo, but his record in the final third with Deportivo Alaves, where he spent time on loan, is hardly inspiring.
Pellistri was loaned to La Liga side Deportivo Alaves in January 2021 and he did not score or assist during that six-month loan. Pellistri re-signed for Deportivo on a season-long loan again that summer and he also failed to score or assist again during that stint.
In defence of Pellistri, the two managers in his second stint at the club did not consider him a first-team starter and he played just 750 minutes across that full season, which equates to around 80 minutes for each month he was there.
It's difficult to find any rhythm or form when you're limited to cameos from the bench, but Pellistri will be grateful for a cameo against Burnley, as the player is desperate to make his debut for United after going over two years without doing so.
Pellistri emerged from the World Cup with credit - his best performance was off the bench against Portugal - and the circumstances are perfect for him to make his United debut, considering Ten Hag's hand is forced for Burnley, to an extent.
If Pellistri doesn't make his debut against Burnley, which is the most suitable opportunity he's had yet, then it's possible he genuinely might never represent the club in a competitive appearance and that would be a shame for the player.
The 20-year-old has dreamed about making his Old Trafford debut and it should be made a reality next week.
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