Victor Lindelof has new opportunity at Manchester United

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Manchester United face Omonia Nicosia in the Europa League this week and a rotated line-up is expected.

Victor Lindelof is one of the players who was expected to switch in, but he also now has a chance to start next weekend against Everton too.

This is due to the injury to Harry Maguire which cost him a place in the derby, and Raphael Varane’s injury which forced him off against City.

A return date for either is unclear, but United won’t take any chances with either of them when Lindelof is fully fit and available for selection. He has now jumped the first team queue. By default, but he will take it.

Lindelof has now jumped the queue

Victor Lindelof was a substitute against Manchester City, making his very first Premier League appearance of the season.

He completed 98 per cent of his passes (40/41), winning one tackle, blocking one shot and making one clearance.

City had eased off for some of the second half and had an extra gear to move into, but Lindelof can be somewhat content with his own display.

He has had to be patient, as United’s fourth choice defender. Lindelof has been used to playing regularly for United since he joined the club.

The 28-year-old has made 140 Premier League appearances for United and 198 in all competitions.

During this time we have seen that United probably need better, something different, and Lisandro Martinez’s aggressive approach has been a tonic for this.

But Lindelof could have a part to play alongside Martinez, especially with Varane already suffering his first injury of the season.

As far as fourth choice defenders go, Lindelof is surely the best in the division, and captain of his country at international level.

This week he could get his chance to show he is more than this, that he should be preferred to Maguire, and that he could be more reliable than the injury-prone Varane.

It may be a long shot, but Varane will be determined to seize his chance. If he can display good chemistry with Martinez then he will put himself in line for more opporutnities.