It’s safe to assume that Erik ten Hag is once again fond of Alejandro Garnacho.

Alejandro Garnacho struck in each half amid a Carabao Cup crushingCredit: Getty

Garnacho completed his double with this calm finish to make it 4-0Credit: Reuters

Rashford fired his second and United’s fifth goal on 58 minutes

After missing the first three games from the starting lineup, he was brought back for the match against Liverpool, only to be benched once more.

The fact that he was benched for the trip to Southampton and that an Instagram post echoing Cristiano Ronaldo’s most recent tirade about Ten Hag had garnered headlines did not likely assist his position.

But on Tuesday night, he made a big comeback.

The 20-year-old Argentinean has again demonstrated why, with continued effort and dedication, he will succeed at this club.

He lit up Old Trafford with two goals and two assists in a 7-0 victory.

Not everyone was out to prove a point like him.

Christian Eriksen celebrates Man Utd’s sixth goal

Despite playing just one minute in the first four League games, Antony was all activity, scoring a goal right from the penalty spot.

Marcus Rashford, whose own position has been disputed, also had a double.

He is hoping to go back to his best after scoring at Southampton and now again.

Before this match, everyone’s talk was about Antony, who at £86 million was the club’s second-most expensive player ever.

Ten Hag didn’t hold back when he said that the Brazilian winger needed to earn his spot.

He got that opportunity when he was called up for this Carabao Cup third round match against League One Barnsley.

Rashford’s goal put United ahead 1-0 as he charged into the box.

Goalie Gabriel Slonina of Barnsley found his pace too much and pulled him down by coming out to the edge of his zone.

Referee Gavin Ward made no hesitations, and Antony picked up the loose ball right away.

Casemiro approached him directly and spoke with him as well.

It appeared to be more of an encouragement than a reprimand for potentially starting a fight with Rashford, who would have expected to accept it.

However, his buddy was pleased to delegate, giving the 24-year-old a fist pump before he put the ball on the spot.

Huge moment, he may have looked foolish in the end.

Two-goal Garnacho was in brilliant form but it was a one-sided winCredit: Rex

Christian Eriksen got his first here on 81 minutes before adding another

But after a little sprint, a stutter, and a left foot swing, he executed the ideal spot kick inside the right upright.

As his teammates surrounded him, he went directly to the supporters in the East Stand behind the goal and patted the United badge.

In the sixteenth minute, Rashford was sent off by a brilliant crossfield pass from Garnacho, giving United the lead.

With an air of assurance, he deftly manoeuvred the ball past Marc Roberts and then unleashed a shot that went past Slonina.

In injury time during the first half, Garnacho would make it three himself.

Rashford crawled into the area after Casemiro’s wide delivery, and the ball broke off for Garnacho.

Ruud van Nistelrooy, who was watching from the bench, would have approved of his poaching instincts when he turned a shot into the far bottom corner.

As they would have been when he grabbed a second, only four minutes after the interval.

This time, Christian Eriksen’s exquisite deep pass was the source of his wonderfully timed run.

Antony slotted home this penalty to make it 2-0 in the 35th minute

The youthful Argentine international struck a shot into the far bottom corner of the goal, clearly unconcerned by the circumstances.

“Viva Garnacho” was yelled across Old Trafford.

It was becoming a rout when in the 57th minute Rashford got his second of the night and made it five.

Garnacho the supplier again with a sweet through ball for the 26-year-old to fire the ball on the run into the near bottom corner.

Eriksen completed the scoring with a late double in the 81st and 85th minutes.

The first was set up by Casmiro with a ball to the near post which he turned in and the Norwegian ended a sweet flowing move with a shot from the edge of the area for his second.

It was impressive stuff from United who had shown eight changes from the Southampton game with a first start for new signing Manuel Ugarte.

Barnsley boss Darrell Clarke grew up a United and any other time would have been happy to watch this.

He had called on his side do ‘themselves justice’ and they at least started well drawing ten fouls from United in the first 30 minutes non of which earned a yellow card.

They did not test Bayindir, however.

The Red Devils class showed.

Garnacho’s class showed.

When he was withdrawn with six minutes remaining the whole of Old Trafford got to their feet in acclaim.