Ten Hag shouldn’t repeat failed left-back experiment – here are three ways Man Utd could line up without Mazraoui
ERIK TEN HAG must be getting a sense of deja vu after being left with a defensive crisis at left-back once again.
The Manchester United boss has just ONE fit senior full-back available for when they host Brentford on Saturday after Noussair Mazraoui was sidelined over the international break.
With long-term injuries to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia as well, it means Diogo Dalot is the only fit full-back Ten Hag has at his disposal.
However, with Mazraoui injured and Dalot showing poor form on the left side, the Portuguese is in line for a return to a more familiar right-back role.
And that has left Ten Hag considering his options, although reports suggest that he could be considering using Aston Villa Man of the Match Jonny Evans there as an emergency stop gap.
Alternatives could see Lisandro Martinez play at left-back or Victor Lindelof fill in at right-back.
Although, the former did not work there the one time he was asked to this season and the latter is not match sharp.
However, former-Ajax boss Ten Hag could be better served with two other options.
The first of those would be to call up highly-rated youngster Harry Amass.
Amass, 17, impressed with the senior side in pre-season and received backing from both Shaw and Ten Hag to break into the first team this season.
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Having a natural left-footed left-back in the position would help United’s chances to no end, with the likes of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho set to be among the biggest beneficiaries.
Ten Hag said Amass could build into the team by November, but with injuries mounting up and a lack of viable alternatives, it seems a no-brainer for United to blood their next academy star.
A third, albeit radical, option could be a formation switch to a back-three with aggressive wing-backs, potentially seeing Antony being selected as a left-wing back and giving him a new lease of life.
This £86million flop has shown he has the work-rate to get up and down the flank, and it could also cut out his bad habit of constantly cutting in from the right-wing.
However Ten Hag, who faced a possible axe during the international break, ultimately lines up his team, he will be desperate to get a positive result against the Bees.
United have won two of their seven league games this season, scoring just five goals in the process, to leave them down in 14th place.