Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata has claimed that full-back Guillermo Varela performs with the same type of experience as a player that has been at the club for the past decade.
The 22-year-old has been given a chance to impress at Old Trafford this season due to a number of injury problems at the back.
Having previously struggled to make any sort of impact during his three years at United, Varela has enjoyed an eight-game run in the starting lineup this term and has caught the eye of supporters.
Speaking to MUTV, Mata said of the South American: "I'm very pleased and I'm very happy for him because he is doing very good on the right side.
"He's going forward, he's defending very well, he's being aggressive and he's performing like he has been playing for 10 years before.
"That is very difficult when you are young and in a stadium such as Old Trafford. He's a very competitive guy, he's very good for the team and the dressing room so we are very happy for him."
Varela's eighth appearance of the season came in Sunday's disappointing 1-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns - a match Mata was sent off in inside the opening 30 minutes.
Daniel Lewis
