After the success of Amad’s loan spell at Sunderland last season, it could be argued that Alvaro Fernandez’s stay at Preston North End went somewhat under the radar.
The Manchester United left-back, who joined the club from Real Madrid almost three years ago, spent last term on loan at Deepdale and gained valuable first-team experience for the very first time. He made 42 appearances in all competitions and produced a number of polished performances.
Deployed mainly as a left-sided wing-back, Fernandez was one of North End’s star players, registering a respectable figure of six assists. He made the most of his stay in Lancashire, resulting in North End supporters desperately hoping he would return after his loan deal reached its conclusion.
They often raved about him and that praise was justified as he won the club’s young player of the season award. A year earlier, he had won United’s under-23 Player of the Year award.
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With two respectable awards under his belt in just 12 months, there is understandable hype surrounding the 20-year-old and his potential. There is a genuine belief that he has the necessary tools to be a top back in the future.
But the jump from the Championship to the Premier League, especially when returning to a club of United’s stature, is huge. Not even Amad, who flourished in the second row last term with 14 goals, is guaranteed to be part of Erik ten Hag’s plans for the coming season.
However, Fernandez has already had two opportunities to try and catch the Dutchman’s attention this pre-season, starting wins over Leeds United and Lyon. The Ten Hag have named the exact same back-four in each of United’s opening two games this summer, and the Spaniard has been the most inexperienced figure in it, teaming up with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez in the first halves of the aforementioned two games.
After coming close to scoring in the 2-0 win over Leeds in Oslo, Fernandez proved a threat in the first half at Murrayfield on Wednesday, looking to get forward as much as he could. His hunger to get down the flank saw him caught out of position on a handful of occasions, but that’s to be expected from a 20-year-old still learning his trade.
Just over a week ago, however, many assumed that Fernandez’s chances of impressing Ten Hag would dry up after the clash with Lyon. Many of United’s star men reported back to pre-season training last weekend, marking the return of fellow left-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.
Shaw is the leader of the left-back union at Old Trafford and Malacia, following his arrival from Feyenoord last summer, quickly established himself as his deputy and even threatened to take Shaw’s place early in the season. However, Malacia will not be given the opportunity to try and dislodge Shaw from the top table this summer after being ruled out of the tour to the USA due to injury.
As big a blow as it is, both for the club and Malacia himself, it opens up a potential window of opportunity for Fernandez.
Although the Spaniard would always be included in the squad, the absence of Malacia will give him an opportunity to try and save more minutes under his belt. Shaw will of course take the lead role at left-back, but Ten Hag is likely to mix things up in midfield, meaning the former Madrid youngster should be given more opportunities to try and impress.
If he takes advantage of the opportunities ahead, either as a starter or from the bench, he will believe his chances of competing with Malacia will be Shaw’s understudy, although it would almost certainly take something special to leapfrog the Dutchman in the pecking order. However, the uncertainty surrounding Harry Maguire’s future could result in Shaw being moved inside and playing at centre-back from time to time.
The former Southampton youngster deputized at central defender on a handful of occasions last term, including in the FA Cup semi-final against Brighton at Wembley, and didn’t look out of place. It is certainly possible that Ten Hag could present him with the same challenge at times this season.
With that in mind, it’s certainly not impossible for Fernandez to force his way into Ten Hag’s mindset. From the outside looking in, another loan move might be best for his development, but he has an opportunity to prove otherwise.
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