Better news for Manchester United fans today after the tepid recent performances and news that Alexis Sanchez is out until the New Year. Manager Jose Mourinho has stated that his summer signing Diogo Dalot is ready to play against Southampton in the Premier League this Saturday.
Dalot, who plays at right-back, has shown glimpses of prodigious talent - enough to get supporters all titillated already after his arrival in the off-season.
Mourinho, reports the Manchester Evening News, has said regarding his 19-year-old defender;
The opportunities will always come... Players must be ready. In this case some are going away to the medical room and some are coming back. For example this weekend will be the first call for Dalot.
He is ready now. He had an important injury, surgery, then a second injury in the national team when he was coming up, when he was already playing against Young Boys and Derby County, when he was almost here. But now he has been training for two weeks and we think he is ready now.”
The right-back issue has been a predominant concern for both Mourinho and watching fans, highlighted further not only by rival clubs filling the position effectively but also by Luke Shaw’s resurgence on the opposite flank.
United have recorded just two clean-sheets so far this season, with the defence perpetually punctured to leave them with a goal difference of -1 in the EPL.
Captain Antonio Valencia has felt the wrath of Mou after ill-advised social media activity and been shunted out into the cold, and Louis Van Gaal relic Matteo Darmian has completely failed to convince, despite a solid showing against Palace at Old Trafford last weekend.
Ashley Young is also ageing and looks far from a viable long-term option as United bid to still compete with the other big boys.
After being bought from Primeira Liga side Porto - which United are reportedly set to raid again - Dalot has only made an appearance in the League Cup knockout by Derby County, and played a stellar role in the 3-0 Champions League win over Young Boys in Bern the preceding week.
Dalot has had to wait for his league debut due to injury sustained on international duty for Portugal but now United took to social media to share their excitement of their summer signing finally fitting into the team.
"Give me [Eric] Bailly at CB and Fred & Dalot against Southampton. I’ll be in tears." (@mufcszn)
"Diogo Dalot will make his premier league debut against Southampton tomorrow, At last, And hopefully he'll stay in the team as well" (@Carrick4united)
"Dalot Vs [Nathan] Redmond will be an interesting battle" (@ScottWSFC)
"Shaw & Dalot starting yesssss" (@JSinh20)
"F*ck yesssssss! Finally some proper full backs likely to start. Dalot and Shaw! Both young and great. Hopefully a start of something good!" (@Tanmay_MUFC)
Yeesssssssssssss Dalot debut tomorrow at f*cking last. (@Simply_Andreas)
Luke shaw Left back with Dalot Right back. Stuff of dreams (@Benaskir00)
"Been waiting 4 months for this." (@AlexisSancxez)
"I better not see young anywhere near that team." (@gboftiii)
Southampton versus Manchester United kicks off at St. Mary’s at 17:30pm, Saturday 1st December.
