Manuel Ugarte has been working with a psychologist and reading Fyodor Dostoyevsky novels as he works to recover from a serious knee injury.

The 25-year-old Uruguayan suffered a cruciate ligament injury which required surgery while representing his nation at the World Cup this summer.

The injury left him in an awkward position. Per widespread reports, Ugarte had been transfer-listed by United come the end of last season, but no move materialised after the surgery, which is expected to rule him out for the vast majority of this campaign.

But Ugarte has made a point of keeping his spirits up as he works through an arduous period of recovery. He has now revealed he has read a number of novels, including the Dostoyevsky classic, ‘The Brothers Karamazov’.

Discussing his reading with psychologist Gabriel Gutierrez is where he feels he has made the most progress, though.

“We have a very good relationship,” said Ugarte of Gutierrez, in a video on the latter’s Instagram page “I started working with him last season, he is accompanying me in my recovery from the cruciate ligament injury.

“It helps me a lot because it makes me see beyond the day-to-day, when sometimes you get angry about things that aren't worth it, and we always talk a lot about everything, not just sports, but also on a personal level.

“And that helps me become aware of what I've achieved, where I am, and I really enjoy it. The hours fly by because we talk about everything. We talk a lot about books.”

Also on Ugarte’s reading list are ‘Love in the Time of Cholera’ and ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’, both by Nobel Prize-winning Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez.

Of Ugarte’s reading choices, Dr Gutierrez said: “These aren't the readings of just any player; they're the readings of an extraordinary player, both on and off the field. Thank you for your kindness, quality, and warmth.”