Manuel Ugarte issues update after Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag's worrying comment

Manchester United’s new midfield star Manuel Ugarte soldiered on through a World Cup qualifier for Uruguay despite being under the weather. The 23-year-old initially cast doubts over his participation after he was hit with a fever just a day before the match, but pushed through, contributing to a goalless draw against Venezuela.

Speaking to AUF TV post-match about battling illness and sweltering heat, Ugarte shared: “Now I feel a bit down but I felt fine during the match despite the heat. Yesterday I had a bit of a fever but we drew and got a point.”

Returning to Manchester, Ugarte’s fitness will be closely monitored as the Red Devils gear up for Saturday’s clash with Southampton.

The midfielder’s United debut was thought to be tantalisingly close following an administrative delay that postponed his potential first appearance against Liverpool, leaving fans eager to see him in action at St. Mary’s Stadium.

With a tight turnaround of just 85 hours post-international duty, it’s a race against time, especially crucial given United’s rocky start to the Premier League season.

United gaffer Erik ten Hag will be keen to bolster his midfield options and remedy the early-season blips, having already made a decisive substitution at the break against Liverpool by replacing Casemiro with Toby Collyer after a disappointing first-half display.

Ugarte was the final summer signing for United, following the acquisitions of Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui. He was introduced to the Old Trafford crowd before the match against Liverpool, having completed a £42.3million transfer from Paris Saint-Germain on the last day of the transfer window.

Ten Hag has already worryingly claimed that it may take “months” for United supporters to see the best of Ugarte. “With Ugarte, we have to build him into the team,” he said. “It will take time, so it’s not like I’m Harry Potter. That is what you have to acknowledge.

“And if you see Manuel Ugarte, he didn’t play so far in the season. Not one match minute. So he needs to build his fitness rate and then we have to build him in the team and I am sure he will contribute to our level and he will be an important player but that will take a couple of weeks, maybe even months.

“And it counts for more players. Joshua Zirkzee, he made big steps the last three or four weeks.

“We still have some players not available. We will be fine but it is clear we have to improve.”