Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has been urged to not sign a new left-back and use Diogo Dalot and Alvaro Fernandez after Luke Shaw’s injury setback.
Shaw, who played the full 90 minutes against Wolves and Tottenham, is set to miss United’s upcoming matches against Nottingham Forest and Arsenal due to injury.
United manager Ten Hag now faces a major crisis at left-back, with second-choice full-back Tyrell Malacia also out of action due to an issue from last season.
According to the Manchester Evening News, United are reportedly set to enter the market and look for a left-back option on a ‘short-term basis.’
United fans are not keen for the club to sign a left-back — arguing the need to strengthen other positions — and calling on Ten Hag to use Dalot or Fernandez.
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United fans want to see Dalot or Fernandez
One fan said: “Alvaro Fernandez isn’t ready for the [Premier League] yet, he will be exposed, play Dalot as LB.”
Someone else added: “Yeah, for now Dalot… But in long run we need to start integrating Alvaro into the squad, too.”
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“This is a useless move [for another left-back], we have Dalot and Fernandez. They can cover,” a third Twitter user wrote.
While another commented: “Dalot, Fernandez, even [Lisandro] Martinez can fill in here [at left-back].”
A fifth tweeted: “Dalot obviously [starts]. The only thing this injury [to Shaw] changes is that Alvaro may not go out on loan. At least until January.”
And a sixth fan posted: “We’re in the market for a LB, yet have [the] options with Alvaro Fernandez or Dalot is crazy.”
Ten Hag’s dilemma at left-back
Ten Hag is likely to play Dalot, who is often deployed in his preferred right-back slot, in the absence of Shaw at left-back against Forest at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Dalot is the more experienced choice for a makeshift left-back ahead of Fernandez, who has not made a senior appearance for the Red Devils.
Fernandez has featured for United at youth level and had been lined up with a loan move away from Old Trafford, with Ten Hag keen for the defender to secure first-team experience.
West Ham were among the clubs linked with Fernandez, but the full-back’s loan spell away from United could be pushed back after Shaw’s short-term injury.