Manager of Manchester United’s Under-21 team, Travis Binnion, says summer signing Diego Leon must first start playing full games at age-range level before thoughts of stepping up to the first team.
The 18-year-old full-back moved to Old Trafford from Paraguayan side Cerro Porteno in July after a deal was agreed in January.
It was a giant step up for the teenager, who had never played outside of his home nation, so there was little chance that he would be thrown straight into the first team.
However, he did feature in pre-season, showing some promise, while he has also now won his first cap for Paraguay at senior level, making his debut against South Korea.
His progress has continued away from the spotlight, though, and is yet to make his Manchester United debut, while the likes of Patrick Dorgu and Diogo Dalot have played at left wing-back.
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Leon has been around the first team squad under Ruben Amorim, without making it onto the pitch, and has been playing for the Under-21 team, but they are bedding him in slowly.
Binnion says the next step for the Paraguayan will just be to see him play a full game at Under-21 level, with thoughts of a first team debut not at the front of his mind.
‘It is evident for all to see he has some real qualities and some strong foundations to his game that he has to build on,’ Binnion said of Leon.
‘He is aware, we are all aware, he has stuff to work on but to be fair to the kid, he has not played a full 90 minutes yet.
‘We will be looking to tick that off pretty soon and that will be really good for him. If he can get a run of 90 minutes, then it is fair to look at his game and see where he is at.
‘At this moment in time he has shown real glimpses of promise and has fitted in with the group really well.’
The youngster appeared to have made a good impression on the first team when he arrived in Manchester, earning praise from a man he hoped to challenge for a place in Amorim’s side.
‘He’s a top, top player,’ Patrick Dorgu said of Leon after a friendly goalless draw with Leeds over the summer. ‘He’s a good player, he’s good for everyone.
‘Everyone has competition in their positions. Every player has two or three players in their position. It’s just going to help the team even more. Everyone’s going to be on their toes, everyone’s going to give 100 per cent to the team.’
Amorim pointed out that he is one for the future, though, saying: ‘We have to understand that the kid came from Paraguay. It’s his second week at Manchester United.
‘He did really well. He’s learning things, he’s powerful, he’s going to be a very good player.’
When Leon arrived he talked up his first team chances, saying: ‘The sensations are inexplicable. You feel so many things. The truth is, I’m very happy, very happy to be there.
‘I think every player dreams of this and I have the opportunity, I’m going to kill it in pre-season and in one or two games I’ll be playing with them.’
Manchester United Under-21s are in EFL Trophy action against Notts County on Tuesday evening, which Leon could feature in.