Assessing Man Utd's start to the Premier League season | Football Digest
Manchester United will be stuck between a rock and a hard place in January if Sergio Reguilon started as he means to go on at the club. The Spaniard was one of little positives from Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford after his surprise arrival on transfer deadline day.
Reguilon started at left-back in a defence missing three of Erik ten Hag’s first-choice defenders – Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane and Luke Shaw.
Ten Hag has been struck with his latest blow after United confirmed on Monday that Wan-Bissaka was set to miss several weeks through a hamstring injury.
It leaves Diogo Dalot as the Red Devils’ only fit senior right-back, opening the door of opportunity for Reguilon to make his mark on the left.
United signed Reguilon on a season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur with the view of sending him back to north London in January when Shaw and Tyrell Malacia will hope to have returned to fitness.
But against Brighton, the 26-year-old wasn’t just the best of a bad bunch. He showed pace and tenacity that will prove crucial as United fight for results amid the club’s availability crisis.
And if he continues in the same ilk, it will become increasingly difficult for Ten Hag to sanction his exit in the winter.
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That could spell bad news for Malacia, the Dutchman’s first signing as United manager last summer.
He joined in a £15m deal from Feyenoord, signing a four-year contract with the option of another year.
The 24-year-old made 39 appearances as Shaw’s cover option last season and would have been guaranteed a prominent role at the start of this term if he hadn’t suffered an injury early in pre-season.
Ultimately, his absence forced United to scramble for a late emergency signing. And he may have a problem if that late emergency signing continues to impress.
Shaw will undoubtedly return to a prominent role once he returns to full fitness. But Ten Hag may opt to keep Reguilon around.
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Such a decision could prove disastrous for Malacia’s development, given that he may slip to third in Ten Hag’s pecking order in favour of a more experienced option.
If Reguilon continues to win over the fanbase with his performances, a decision on his future may depend on United’s standing on all fronts.
Ten Hag may not deem it necessary to keep a third left-back if his side’s poor start to the season results in early exits in Europe and the Carabao Cup.
But the Dutchman will likely want all the reinforcements he can get if United are set for Champions League or Europa League football in the new year.
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