Dimitar Berbatov says that Shola Shoretire must "train like his life depends on it" as he looks to earn more playing time after making his Manchester United first-team debut.
Shoretire, who has impressed with the under-23s this season and is viewed as the latest academy graduate who can make his name in the senior set-up, was introduced in the 89th minute of Sunday's 3-1 win over Newcastle United.
The 17-year-old, who has four goals and six assists in 14 Premier League 2 games this season, is viewed as a long-term first-team option, just as Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford are already.
And former United striker Berbatov says that the youngster must now seize his moment as he looks to earn more first-team opportunities under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
"It is a great moment for a player at 17 to make his debut at Old Trafford," he told Betfair. "He must have shown something in training and the youth teams which made that happen.
"He has made the first step and now the difficult thing is to show Ole and the coaching staff that he can back that up.
"He has to prove he belongs there. He just needs to keep pushing and show himself in the eyes of the coaching staff.
"In Shola's situation, you must train like your life depends on it. You need to show everyone that you are here and are waiting for your moment. You should never take your eyes away from the prize.
"People come up to me and say: 'I remember watching you when I was little.' It always makes me think about how many years have passed and how old I am.
"Now I realise I had played in a Champions League final before Shoretire was born! However, for Shola he is at Manchester United and he just needs to keep it up."
Shoretire, meanwhile, says that he wants to emulate Rashford and Greenwood as the latest academy graduate to make an impact on the first team.
"Everyone in the Academy idolises Marcus [Rashford] and Mason [Greenwood]. They have gone through the path we want to follow. I can learn from them," he told the official club website.
He added: "It feels great [to make my debut]. It is such a proud moment for me and my family.
"I’ve worked so hard to get here and my mum and my dad.
"I have been at the club since I was 10 and it is a dream come true to be playing for the biggest club in the world."
