Manuel Ugarte will face a tough challenge to get back into the Manchester United first-team squad when he returns from injury, likely in 2027. 

He picked up an anterior cruciate ligament injury on World Cup duty with Uruguay and has not trained with the United squad since. 

However, when he was fit, Ugarte was not a regular under Michael Carrick. After Carrick replaced Rúben Amorim, Ugarte played just 15 minutes against Fulham, 29 against Newcastle United, and 90 against Leeds United – just three appearances from January until May. 

Since his injury, Manchester United have signed Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba to bolster the midfield. 

Baleba is yet to play for Carrick's side – though he was on the bench against Fulham before the international break – but he started a friendly match against Lausanne-Sport alongside Matthijs de Ligt, who is also returning from injury and has impressed in training. 

It will be a challenge for Ugarte to get back into the first team, but the midfielder has now revealed what had been a "huge help" to him. 

Manuel Ugarte is currently working with psychologist Gabriel Gutiérrez during his injury rehabilitation, but the former Paris Saint-Germain player has revealed that their partnership began before his injury. 

"We have a very good relationship. I started working with him last season and he’s been alongside me during my recovery from the cruciate ligament injury," Ugarte told ESPN. 

"He helps me a lot because he makes me look beyond the day-to-day. Sometimes you get angry about things that happen during the day which aren’t worth it.

"We always talk a lot about everything, not just sport, but also on a personal level. That helps me become aware of what I’ve achieved, where I am, and I really enjoy it.

"The hours fly by because we talk about everything. We talk a lot about books."

While Gutiérrez will be a big help to Ugarte while he recovers from injury, the 25-year-old has explained why he wants to continue working with him. 

"It’s a huge help. Behind an athlete there’s a person," he said. "How you perform, work and act in sport is directly related to your personal life, so it’s something important and I’m very happy to continue working with him."

Ugarte may not play for Manchester United again, but working with the psychologist is sure to have a big impact on his current and future career. 

While he has not shown it at Manchester United, Ugarte was a talented prospect at Sporting CP and a good player at PSG. That player has not disappeared. 

He has shown glimpses of promise during his United career, however sparingly, but looked destined to leave last summer before his World Cup injury. 

In truth, Ugarte will likely leave Old Trafford next summer, but if he could get back to his best, a hard-working, energetic defensive midfielder, he could be a big player for Michael Carrick. 

Baleba and Mainoo are many fans' choice for the starting midfield pair, but Baleba does not have a recognised backup. Who would be the closest to his profile? Manuel Ugarte.