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5 potential left-back options for Man Utd against Brentford


Manchester United return to action on Saturday when Brentford, who have made a habit of scoring the early goals this season, at Old Trafford.

Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are getting closer to being available again, but this weekend still came too soon for the pair. It means left-back remains a headache for Erik ten Hag, with Noussair Mazraoui undergoing a minor heart procedure and only just returning to training.

Mazraoui had started the matches at right-back, but his presence there meant that Diogo Dalot could deputize on the left. Now, with Mazraoui perhaps still a doubt and Dalot the only senior full-back definitely available, Ten Hag have a decision to make on how they organize their defense for this one.

Diogo Dalot

Diogo Dalot has been a regular at left-back this season / Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/GettyImages

Perhaps the most obvious solution is to stick with Dalot at left back and find an emergency solution on the right.

It’s not the Portuguese’s preferred ground but, at least as a specialist full-back, he’s potentially better equipped to deal with the boss. Brentford threat from Bryan Mbeumo, who tends to operate on the right flank of Les Abelles.

Dalot stayed on the left even when Mazraoui came on at half-time against Aston Villa and made a game-saving block towards the end, which could be a clue to Ten Hag’s thinking.

However, the alternative way of thinking is that keeping Dalot on the left leaves United with two square pegs in round holes. If Ten Hag returns it to the right, it’s one at most. The Dutchman should then assess who is best suited for the left-back challenge.

Victor Lindelof

Victor Lindelof just back from injury / Catherine Ivill – AMA/GettyImages

Victor Lindelof got his first minutes of the season at Villa Park, replacing Mazraoui for the second half and ending the 0-0 draw at right back. That could continue with the visit of Brentford, but the Iceman, who also played 28 minutes for Sweden during the international break, spent plenty of time coming on as a substitute at left-back last season, including at home against Brentford.

Lisandro Martinez

Lisandro Martinez was sent off against Aston Villa / Visionhaus / GettyImages

After a difficult night against Porto in the Europa League, Lisandro Martínez was pulled from the spotlight at Villa Park. The Argentine would normally start in the center of defence, but it remains to be seen how Ten Hag sees this situation, even though Harry Maguire is now sidelined.

Martinez featured at left-back at Wembley in August when United were only denied a win over Manchester City in the Community Shield by a late equaliser. Scored Oscar Bobb that day.

Harry Mass

Harry Amass is talented but lacks experience / Ian MacNicol/GettyImages

A left back with a lot of talent and potential that united Fans have yet to see at senior level is Harry Amass. The teenager was just 17 when he began to be regularly named on the first-team bench in the latter stages of last season, but so far this campaign has been spent playing regularly in Premier League 2 after ‘having been promoted from the Under. -18 team

Amass emerged during the pre-season and has been personally named by Luke Shaw in recent months as someone to keep an eye on. But that would be a baptism of fire.

Toby Collyer

Toby Collyer is no stranger to playing at left-back / Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/GettyImages

If Ten Hag doesn’t reshuffle a center left and is wary of throwing Amass to the Lions, a youngster with a bit more experience is Toby Collyer.

Although a midfielder by trade, Collyer has already played at left-back against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup. He also really likes Ten Hag, who turned on the 20-year-old at half-time in September’s defeat to Liverpool when Casemiro was struggling.

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