One of the few bright spots in Manchester United’s worst season opener in 37 years has been Alejandro Garnacho.

Alejandro Garnacho’s full debut for Manchester United is one week from this coming week, and hardly many academy graduates have had such a rapid rise in the modern era.

However, Garnacho has only started three of the 14 games for United which he should have, due to injury. A thrilling full debut in the Europa League against FC Sheriff, a game-winning performance the next week against Real Sociedad, and a Fergie Time decider in the FA Cup victory over West Ham in March were all highlights.

“I see today another step,” West Ham’s victory led Erik ten Hag to remark. Before the game, I told him, ‘It’s time. When you first step in, you make an impression, but now you have to make an impression as a starter. That is the next move he needs to take, and I believe he is capable of it.”

Garnacho has not yet taken that step and has not performed well enough to start in the Premier League thus far. On New Year’s Eve against the Wolves, Garnacho was hooked at halftime. He was caught again against Leicester in February. He was replaced in the first two games of this season and did not last an hour with United down 2-0 at Leeds.

Garnacho hasn’t been on the field for a league kickoff since the devastating loss at Tottenham nearly nine weeks ago. But given Marcus Rashford’s declining circumstances, a league recall has been long overdue.

Ten Hag has stuck by Rashford even though he has only scored once in nine games. Due to his persistence, Rashford has become more unpopular with the fans, who have vocally criticized him during at least three of this season’s home games.

Against Galatasaray, Rashford’s misplaced square ball attempt to Bruno Fernandes epitomized his play style. He missed the one opportunity to shoot in a season where he has shot on sight with an infamously low conversion rate.

Rashford had to pause since Fernandes was trailing so much, which gave Galatasaray defender Sacha Boey time to catch up and block the telegraphed pass.

Garnacho’s cut-back for the equalizer at the Scoreboard End in the comeback against Brentford was similar to Rashford’s for Rasmus Hojlund against Brighton. The ball went out of play, only Rashford overplayed his dribbling, and VAR rightfully wrote off the goal. United suffered a 3-1 defeat.

Even though Garnacho had celebrated Nathan Collins’ own goal against Brentford moments earlier, he overcame his emotional anguish at the flag being hoisted to play a significant role in United’s comeback. The first person to embrace Scott McTominay was the Argentine.

Any astute fan would have suggested that Ten Hag dropped Rashford a few weeks ago. Four years ago, Rashford was shocked by his England demotion against the Czech Republic. However, he was called up a few days later and scored in the team’s 6-0 thumping of Bulgaria. After rejoining United, he went on a career-best scoring streak that saw him score 18 goals in 22 appearances. The only thing that stopped the run was a chronic back problem.

Gareth Southgate, who hinted at the England starting XI against Italy by playing a second XI in the dull friendly with Australia, is still faithful to Rashford. Against the victors of the European Championship, Rashford scored a classic goal by scuttling inside and dragging the ball between his laces.

Just like he was four years ago, he has a summer deal, two goals in his first ten games for United, and Mason Greenwood is a whippersnapper waiting in the wings before a successful trip with the national team in October.

United travel to Sheffield United this weekend, the only team without a win in the Premier League. Ten Hag will undoubtedly err on the side of caution for this Saturday’s 8 p.m. kickoff at one of the league’s most divisive venues.

Garnacho has been gone in South America, having traveled more than 6,200 miles to be an unutilized replacement in Argentina’s World Cup qualifying victories against Peru and Paraguay in Buenos Aires and Lima. The North Circular is the furthest Rashford has ventured.

It wouldn’t be fair to ignore Garnacho, who has excelled in his cameo appearances and scored on his most recent start against apathy-filled Crystal Palace in the League Cup. Despite his lack of starts, he has been one of United’s few bright spots during their worst season opener in 37 years.

Garnacho is also drawing nearer. He replaced Rashford in the 77th minute of the 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace, the 68th minute of the match against Galatasaray, and the 63rd minute of the match against Brentford.

Sooner or later, there will inevitably be a significant start.