Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has challenged Alejandro Garnacho to take his game to a new level, having penned a long-term contract with the 20-time English champions.

The 18-year-old, who is on the verge of returning to action following an ankle injury, signed a new deal with Man United last Friday, with the fresh agreement running until June 2028.

Garnacho has made 29 appearances for the Red Devils this season, scoring four goals and registering five assists, although he has been out since the middle of March through injury.

Ten Hag has said that the youngster is fully deserving of his new deal, and the Dutchman is now expecting the forward to embrace the pressure that comes with the territory.

"He is improving and he has improved a lot," Ten Hag said in a video on MUTV when addressing Garnacho's family. "That is why we are now here and he deserves this, a new contract. It is deserved by his performance and he has fought his way into the team.

"It was a huge step and he did magnificently. Now, I hope and I think this new contract is an inspiration and a motivation to do even better. It is a big step and today you deserve it, you have to do some celebrations with your family, they are the ones who are in your heart.

"This club needs players who can do incredible things. It is not only about 'we want to win'. Also, we want to win in a certain way. But winning is the most important and then we want to win in a certain way, because we are playing in the Theatre of Dreams.

"And then this club has to win trophies and you want to win trophies, because in the end a contract is great but in the end of a career you want to collect trophies. You want to look back and say 'I won the Premier League, I won the Champions League, I was at the World Cup.

"I think he has the talent to do it but talent has to work, because talent that does not work will not go far. This is the start, a new start, a signed contract, and tomorrow new roles, new aims and go."

Meanwhile, during his press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Ten Hag added: "First of all, I think he has the prize and it shows he can make the final step, not only in talent but also he made it.

"Now, it's a new start, a restart, because now expectations will be higher, the demands will definitely be higher. He is on his way, he is a strong character and that's why he's there in the moment on this level, and he did it by himself.

"Now more work is coming to go because the demands are higher. We expect more from him but it's great he made it. It tells we will give young players opportunities but they have to deserve it. When I say give, translate to deserve.

"They have to deserve with their feet, show it on the pitch and it means investing a lot, investing in training and performances in the Under-21s then wait for your moment and prove again.

"Alejandro is that step beyond but now the demands will be even more. He has to compete for a starting XI position. Every time is the same: you have to cross limits and every time you have to go in the next level. We go with him in the challenge but most important is the player has to do it."

Garnacho will again be unavailable against Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Thursday but has a chance of being back in the squad against West Ham United on Sunday. body check tags ::