A loan move away from Manchester United can make or break your career.

For some it offers the perfect platform to justify hype in an environment far less intense than the daily Old Trafford spotlight, while for others it can all but stop a top-flight career before it has even started.

Sadly for Joel Pereira it is starting to look like it might be the latter.

Hopes were high for the Portuguese goalkeeper when he made the move to Hearts last summer. He had impressed during pre-season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but was keen to secure a move in order to build confidence, and hopefully emulate the success of Dean Henderson at Sheffield United.

The 23-year-old started life in Edinburgh indifferently keeping two clean sheets in his first six league matches, but has managed just one in his last 14 games as Hearts have plummeted down the table and find themselves battling for survival in the Scottish Premiership.

It is safe to say he is not meeting expectations. Pereira has made three senior appearances during his time at United, managing two clean sheets, and was tipped to be the future No.1 of Portugal by Jose Mourinho three years ago.

“We have two fantastic goalkeepers,” Mourinho said in 2017.

“We have a third goalkeeper that I think will be the best Portuguese goalkeeper of the next generation so anyone in goal I trust completely.”

The backing from compatriot Mourinho was a confidence boost to the young goalkeeper, but his words will feel a lifetime ago amid the frustration he is experiencing at Hearts.

His last home game for Hearts ended with Pereira apologising to teammates in the dressing room at full-time after another costly error in a 3-2 home defeat to Kilmarnock, while his last appearance saw him concede five against a ruthless Celtic side.

“I’ve said it many times that Pereira isn’t good enough,” BT Sport pundit and former United player Michael Stewart said of Pereira. “The deal to get Craig Gordon should’ve been done.”

Hearts manager Daniel Stendel remained coy when asked if he was only playing Pereira because the loan agreement specified he had to, but with relegation looking likely his position had to give. The United loanee has been on the bench for the last five games and results have steadily improved.

A famous derby win away at Hibernian restored faith among fans, while a shock victory over Rangers has also booked them a place in the last four of the Scottish Cup.

It means there is a real sense of uncertainty surrounding Pereira when club football returns.

The 23-year-old is still contracted to United until next summer with the option of an additional year, but the season which was supposed to define him has only seen him fall further down the pecking order. Henderson’s form at Sheffield United has all but killed any hopes of another chance this summer, and David de Gea has recently committed his long-term future the club.

When you then consider Sergio Romero is still happy as back-up, Lee Grant has signed an extension, the arrival of Nathan Bishop and the fact fellow youngster Kieran O’Hara is now a senior international with Ireland, it seems unlikely Pereira will ever get the opportunity again.

However, the fact both Mourinho and Solskjaer have backed him should provide some comfort, and he must use the added competition as motivation to come back stronger than ever..

Pereira’s loan move might not have paid off this season, but he has nothing to lose by pursuing another next year.