Dalot to lose ever-present status

Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot will miss his first game of the season, when Southampton come to Old Trafford on Thursday night (20:00 GMT kick-off).

The Portugal international must sit out the Saints clash after being sent off in the 61st minute of our Emirates FA Cup third-round triumph over Arsenal. He was shown a second yellow card by referee Andrew Madley for a foul on Mikel Merino.

The one-game suspension applies to all domestic games so he is absent for the Premier League fixture and not the next round of the competition, against Leicester City next month.

The reigning Players’ Player of the Year has been a permanent fixture in the side again this term, capable of operating on either flank, and has adapted well to moving to a left wing-back role primarily under Ruben Amorim, with a particularly impressive performance coming in the recent 2-2 draw at Liverpool.

Although our head coach has rotated a lot since taking over, Dalot has kept his place. The only XI he was omitted from, throughout 2024/25, was the Europa League tie against Bodo/Glimt – Amorim’s first home match in charge.

Tyrell Malacia started the 3-2 victory but Diogo came on as a half-time substitute for the Dutchman.

The 25-year-old’s unavailability means two of his team-mates can draw level with him for United appearances this season.

Alejandro Garnacho, who started the penalty shootout win at Arsenal, and defensive regular Noussair Mazraoui are in line to match Dalot’s record.

Diogo’s absence could pave the way for Malacia to start against the Saints, after he did well up against Raheem Sterling, when introduced at the Emirates Stadium. Garnacho did drop deeper in the wake of Dalot’s dismissal, to help cover the left flank, but has not been selected at wing-back yet under Amorim.

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