Álvaro Fernández is making steady progress in the pursuit of his Championship trade this season with Preston North End.
Fernandez, 19, played 88 minutes in yesterday’s FA Cup game in which Preston defeated Huddersfield Town.
LancsLive described the teen’s proactive performance:
“On the front foot the whole game, looking to make things happen. He delivered low crosses in dangerous areas, even if the final product wasn’t always there. A bit of a lack of communication with [Freddie] Woodman in preparation for the [Huddersfield] Goal of the people”.
This review is almost quintessential for a Premier League youngster thriving in the Championship: impressive and determined, but prone to unforced errors and tactical mishaps.
Fernández has had a fruitful time learning and experiencing professional football in a difficult league – he has made 20 Championship appearances so far out of a possible 26 and has quickly become a mainstay in the Preston side.
Preston has tied Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round of the FA Cup after yesterday afternoon’s victory. Playing against a top Premier League side should encourage Fernández to impress the watchful eyes of Erik ten Hag’s staff.
The Spanish left-back, who joined United from Real Madrid in 2020, has 18 months left on his current contract, but United have the option to extend his contract for another year.
With that, the youngster’s aim is to continue to impress at Preston to establish himself in the United first team.
Speaking to Relevo about his wishes for the near future, Fernández said: “My goal is to return to Manchester United and earn a place in the first team.
“I talk enough with Darren Fletcher, who is involved in first-team thinking.
In fact, Fernández has been lucky with his man-management at Preston.
Head coach Ryan Lowe has been shrewd with his use of the Spanish teenager, removing him from the starting eleven during November when he felt Fernández’s mentality was starting to slip.
“He lost his focus a little bit a couple of weeks ago, I have to say, when he was off the team,” Lowe explained to LancsLive after Fernandez regained his place in December. “He knew, so we sat him down, had a talk and I spoke to Man United about a thing or two.
He loves it here, the boy, doesn’t he?
“Cross the field and lose the ball; your recovery runs have to be sprints. But, he is a young man who has a fantastic talent.
“We still have to train him and tell him that tactically he has to be in it.”
With managers aware of the left-back’s superior raw talent and the importance of mentality to success at United, Fernández can be expected to figure prominently in the Championship as he learns and develops in the physical, tactical and mental aspects of the game. match.
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