Facundo Pellistri's Instagram post to commemorate his Manchester United debut could have been mistaken for a fan account: "the day has come!" It was accompanied by a mindblowing emoji.
Pellistri's cameo against Charlton blew United fans' mind. His crafty assist for Marcus Rashford six minutes after his entrance ended the contest.
What occurred before that was just as impressive. There was no fanfare to greet Pellistri's introduction to the Old Trafford crowd two years, three months and five days on from his transfer yet they quickly put their hands together for United's fourth Uruguayan.
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With United still only 1-0 ahead, Pellistri chased back into his own area to gather a loose ball while parallel with the penalty spot and an opponent breathing down his neck. Pellistri dashed away towards the right wing and, with two Charlton players in pursuit, coolly halted the ball and knocked it back to Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
That elicited a round of applause and soon he was in the 18-yard box at the Stretford End, fashioning an opportunity for Scott McTominay that was blocked.
In his three fulfilling first-team appearances, Pellistri has scored two goals and created one. His pace and jinky directness marks him out as a potential game-changer, only he had been excluded from the four matchday squads prior to Charlton's visit.
United would have a stronger bench with Pellistri and Alejandro Garnacho to turn to against City in Saturday's derby. Pellistri's first 11 minutes in a United shirt bracketed him with their other influential substitutes; Rashford scored twice clinically, Casemiro was responsible for his second and Christian Eriksen drew the standout save from Ashley Maynard-Brewer.
Erik ten Hag mentioned Pellistri unprompted at his post-match press conference: "Pellistri came in for the first time and did really well, good actions, good assist for 2-0 from Rashford."
The United manager was then asked whether Pellistri would stay beyond the January transfer window: "I see a future in him and he is doing really well and we have to see what is the best.
"He's progressing, also against Everton (in the behind-closed-doors game) I was really happy with his performance, I was happy with his performance in the World Cup, his progress is really good.
"He's come on and had an effect so that's the next step. I say well done, better, and keep going."
Before Tuesday night, some members of the Manchester press pack had played more often at Old Trafford than Pellistri. His agent prematurely predicted on November 1 Pellistri's departure was "imminent".
On the evidence of Pellistri's scene-stealing bow, he should not be the outgoing United forward this month. Anthony Elanga was selflessly congratulatory as he was replaced by Pellistri and the Swede always puts in a shift. But he does not put the ball in the back of the net.
Elanga's club drought is approaching the 11-month mark and his harmless start against Charlton confirmed he is not striker material. Elanga, best maximised from the left wing, is a curious attacker for Frank Lampard to covet and pull Everton out of the mire when he has Demarai Gray.
Flavour of the month at the start of last year, the only way has been down for Elanga since the high of his equaliser against Atletico Madrid in February. Rashford, whom he ousted last year, is on the cusp of attaining world-class status and is immovable in the United starting XI, provided he hears his alarm clock.
Pellistri is a modern rarity in that he is a right-footed winger at ease on the right wing. He has played there in all 10 of his outings for Uruguay and you could count on one hand how many times he has lined up on the left for Penarol and Alaves, where he was loaned twice by United.
At a crucial juncture in United's season when they are striving for balance, they have had a credible back-up to Antony all along. For two years, three months, six days and counting.
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