As Manchester United embarks on a trip to London for Sunday's match against Tottenham, their travel itinerary and season having encountered setbacks, a young player has been given a chance to shine.
They had initially planned to travel south on the train, but Avanti West Coast had their usual issues and a signal failure resulted in all services being cancelled.
No matter, Ruben Amorim and his team will have to make do with the coach. The departure was accompanied by Jim Ratcliffe's enthusiasm for saving some money.
Even by their standards following the post-Ferguson era, Manchester United are in a difficult position as they prepare to face Tottenham.
Thirteenth place in the league and needing to sell players before making purchases in the summer, there's little reason to be optimistic at Old Trafford.
Even the club's ongoing development of young talent appears poised to serve as a way to meet FFP requirements, as Ratcliffe and his team consider adopting the methods used by Chelsea to generate revenue.
In the case of Jack Moorhouse, the young player brought into the United squad to face Spurs, that would be a grave mistake.
Moorhouse functions as a central midfielder, capable of penetrating through defensive lines with his ball control skills, and has been likened to Paul Pogba due to his passing ability.
He had shown off his speed and agility in a youth match against Liverpool last season, passing his opponents with ease.
The contemporary game is centered around making secure choices, maintaining control of the ball, and maintaining a cohesive team formation.
Moorhouse's directness is a refreshing contrast to the bland trends of elite football and forces defenders into difficult situations.
This demands quick reflexes and sharp thinking to accomplish in a game situation, qualities that cannot be learned in practice sessions. Moorhouse has a natural talent.
The player, born in 2005, returned to action for United's under-21 team in November after a 431-day layoff due to injury.
The midfielder made his under-18s debut at the age of 15, went on to play in the FA Youth Cup, and for the under-18s at the beginning of the 2023-24 season, but then suffered an injury.
Moorhouse was the standout player in the under-21s' 5-1 win over Southampton in December after recovering from injury.
His displays and attitude in training with the senior squad have impressed the United coaches and earned him the opportunity to be part of the first-team squad at Tottenham.
One area where United is lacking in depth is midfield, with Amorim yet to provide significant opportunities for young players like Toby Collyer and Dan Gore to showcase their skills.
Moorhouse, who was nominated for the PL2 Player of the Month award in December, now has the opportunity to surpass the pair and become a regular part of the first team.
Twenty-seven academy players made their first-team debut during Amorim's tenure at Sporting, and United's prospects are competing to be among his first selections.
Young Moorhouse has the potential to become a regular member of the first team at Old Trafford and is given a chance to prove himself and secure a spot in the lineup.
He may not play for Spurs, but United's injury-stricken team and limited budget for new signings could give him a genuine opportunity. He has the talent to seize it.
By Michael Lee