IT is fair to say Alejandro Garnacho is back in Erik ten Hag’s good books.
Left out of the starting line-up for the first three games, he was recalled for the defeat against Liverpool only to be dropped again.
A ‘liking’ of an Instagram post quoting Cristiano Ronaldo’s latest rant about Ten Hag had probably not helped his cause as it made headlines and he was benched for the trip to Southampton.
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But he was back on Tuesday night and with a bang.
The 20-year-old Argentinian once again underlined why he is on a path to greatness at this club if he keeps his head down and keeps working.
With two goals and two assists in a 5-0 win he lit up Old Trafford.
He was not the only one out to make a point.
Antony had played only one minute of the opening four League games but he was all action and grabbed a goal from the spot.
There was a double as well from Marcus Rashford, whose own place has been up for debate.
After scoring at Southampton and now this, he is looking back to his best again.
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Antony, the club’s second most expensive player ever at £86million, was the main subject on the eve of this encounter.
Ten Hag was pulling no punches saying the Brazilian winger had to prove he was worth his place.
A call up for this Carabao Cup third round tie against League One Barnsley offered him that chance.
United were already 1-0 up through Rashford when he stormed into the box.
His speed was too much for Barnsley goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina who came out to the edge of his area and brought him down.
No hesitation from referee Gavin Ward and non from Antony either who immediately picked up the loose ball.
Casemiro went straight up to him and gave him a talking too.
It was one that looked more in encouragement rather than admonishment for possibly provoking a row with Rashford who would expect to take it.
But his teammate was happy to hand over duties, with a fist pump before the 24-year-old put the ball on the spot.
Big moment, he could have ended up looking silly.
But with a little run, a stutter and then a swing of his left foot he dispatched the perfect spot kick inside the right-hand upright.
He went straight to the fans behind the goal in the East Stand and patted the United badge as he was engulfed by his teammates.
United had gone ahead in the 16th minute when a brilliant crossfield ball from Garnacho sent Rashford away.
Looking full of confidence he slipped the ball past Marc Roberts before whacking a shot beyond Slonina.
Garnacho would make it three himself in first half injury time.
Casemiro laid a pass out wide to Rashford who wriggled his way into the box before the ball broke off for Garnacho.
His poaching instincts would have been approved by Ruud van Nistelrooy watching on from the bench as he turned a shot into the far bottom corner.
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As they would have been just four minutes after the break when he grabbed a second.
This time his perfectly timed run was picked out by a fine ball from deep from Christian Eriksen.
The young Argentine international looks totally unfazed in these situations as he bore down on goal and curled a shot into the far bottom corner.
‘Viva Garnacho’ ran round Old Trafford.
It was becoming a rout when in the 57th minute Rashford got his second of the night and made it five.
Garnacho the supplier again with a sweet through ball for the 26-year-old to fire the ball on the run into the near bottom corner.
Eriksen completed the scoring with a late double in the 81st and 85th minutes.
The first was set up by Casmiro with a ball to the near post which he turned in and the Norwegian ended a sweet flowing move with a shot from the edge of the area for his second.
It was impressive stuff from United who had shown eight changes from the Southampton game with a first start for new signing Manuel Ugarte.
Barnsley boss Darrell Clarke grew up a United and any other time would have been happy to watch this.
He had called on his side do ‘themselves justice’ and they at least started well drawing ten fouls from United in the first 30 minutes non of which earned a yellow card.
They did not test Bayindir, however.
The Red Devils class showed.
Garnacho’s class showed.
When he was withdrawn with six minutes remaining the whole of Old Trafford got to their feet in acclaim.
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