Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte played through illness during Uruguay’s goalless World Cup qualifier draw against Venezuela on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old had been a late doubt for the game after suffering from a fever in the 24 hours leading up to the game. “Now I feel a bit down but I felt fine during the match despite the heat,” Ugarte told AUF TV after the game in an update on his condition.

“Yesterday I had a bit of a fever but we drew and got a point.” Having played the entire match, the midfielder will now return to Manchester where he will be assessed ahead of Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off against Southampton.

After United missed out on the deadline to register him for their game against Liverpool before the international break, Ugarte could potentially make his debut at Southampton this weekend. With that said, he will face a race against time to start against the Saints for the early kick-off.

There will be 85 hours between Ugarte playing for his nation and United playing Southampton, which will impact his chances of a first debut. But United clearly need Ugarte to be in a position to start as soon as possible, having suffered two defeats in their first three Premier League matches.

Erik ten Hag hooked Casemiro at half-time in the Liverpool defeat, replacing him with Toby Collyer following a poor performance.

Ugarte was United’s last summer signing following the arrivals of Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui. He was presented to the United faithful at Old Trafford before the game against Liverpool after sealing a £42.3million move from Paris Saint-Germain on transfer deadline day.