Altay Bayindir’s long wait for a Manchester United debut finally ends this Sunday, as he steps between the posts against Newport County in the FA Cup.

Since his £5 million arrival from Fenerbahçe, the Turkish goalkeeper has watched Andre Onana dominate the number one spot. But with Onana away at AFCON, Bayindir’s chance to shine has arrived.

READ: Who is Man United Keeper Altay Bayindir? Turkiye’s Rising Star

Erik ten Hag’s reliance on Onana might be unwavering, but Bayindir hasn’t let the bench be his only training ground.

According to The Times, he’s made a triple play for professional growth, hiring a dietitian, a physical therapist, and a performance coach.

The results are reportedly speaking for themselves, with Bayindir spending extra time learning about sleep, nutrition, and even cracking Mancunian jokes with Carrington staff – his English fluency now on point.

The Times article also reports that he likes chess, enjoys poetry, self-help books and darts.

This dedication and improvement are set to be rewarded on Sunday. Newport County might not be the grandest stage, but it’s Bayindir’s chance to showcase his talent and potentially rewrite his United narrative.

He might still be the understudy, but against Newport, he’s the leading man. Can he make the most of his moment and turn the page on his bench-warming days? The Old Trafford faithful, and ten Hag himself, will be watching intently.