Dan Gore is targeting more first-team appearances for Manchester United after debuting for the club in Tuesday's EFL Cup clash with Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.
On his 19th birthday, the midfielder was handed his first-team bow for the Red Devils, playing the final 29 minutes of what proved to be a 3-0 victory for Erik ten Hag's side.
Gore, who made the move to Man United from Burnley in 2018, has opened up on the "truly special moment" of featuring at senior level for the first time.
"It tops the list of birthdays, it was truly a special moment," he told MUTV after the League Cup contest. "I don't think words can describe that feeling, seeing the fans, it is everything you've dreamed of, coming true.
"It means everything [to make your debut], growing up as a United fan [along with] my whole family, it means a lot to them and they were all here supporting me.
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"I think being around world-class players, day in and day out, has really helped me improve my game a lot.
"You grow up watching these players, so to play with them... you watch them on TV winning the Champions League, it is actually surreal."
Gore, who has been on the bench for Man United's last four Premier League matches, in addition to the Champions League clash with Bayern Munich, has said that he is now aiming to secure more first-team opportunities.
"That is the aim," he added. "But it happens in training. You have to work hard every day in training and then, hopefully, the opportunities come your way."
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Meanwhile, when asked about Gore during his post-match press conference, Ten Hag said: "I think it's a great birthday. But I just said, I'm not a manager and we don't have coaches who give players opportunities.
"They have to deserve it. And once they deserve it, they get the opportunity, but then they have to prove it. And I think then called it. But also young players is Hannibal [Mejbri], [Facundo] Pellistri and [Alejandro] Garnacho.
"But they have to do it every time again. And we are very critical. They have to deserve it every day in training. And when the standards are too low, they will hurt from us and we don't play them because they have to train every day to the maximum."
Gore has benefitted from Man United's injury problems to be a regular in the squad this season, and he will be bidding to keep himself involved at senior level against Palace in the league this weekend.
Matt Law
