Manchester United’s recent defeat at home to Crystal Palace left Ruben Amorim with much to ponder once more after another shocking display at Old Trafford.
If the 0-2 defeat wasn’t enough, Amorim also lost one of his key players to a knee injury that looks set to rule him out for the remainder of the season.
Centre-back Lisandro Martinez was stretched off with what has now been confirmed as cruciate ligament damage to his right knee.
United decided against dipping into the transfer market at the eleventh hour to sign cover for the Argentine with Amorim expected to find his replacement from the current crop.
As reported by The Express, former Scotland international Ally McCoist has suggested Diogo Dalot could be the answer to losing Martinez and Amorim could deploy the Portuguese in the left-sided centre-back role as part of the back three.
The Scot believes due to the continued absence of Luke Shaw, Dalot will be the one to step into Martinez’ shoes.
Shaw was expected to provide Amorim with another option for the second half of the campaign but has unbelievably suffered yet another injury setback just days after returning to first-team training.
“I think Diogo Dalot’s the obvious one. I mean, I don’t know what’s going on with Luke Shaw. That’s another one.
“If he’s going to continue to play that three at the back, the obvious one would be Dalot. I know Shaw’s played centre-back before, if they can get him fit. I don’t know how far away he is,” he told Express Sport.
McCoist continued by stating he feels Dalot’s best position is on either side of a back four but given Amorim’s insistence on sticking with his back three, he sees the 25-year-old as the right man for the job.
“It’s a little bit of a shame because of the way he plays that back three. I think Dalot wide in the back four has been one of the plus positions and one of the plus marks.
“It suits him getting up and down, and you would obviously take that away from him if he moves to centre-back, but I think that’s the obvious choice,” he said.
Martinez’s injury was nothing if not ill-timed, given the recent form of World Cup winner who was getting back to his best after a slow start to the campaign.
However, given that United’s January incomings were in defensive areas, Amorim is relatively well positioned to be able to find adequate cover for his missing star.
Leny Yoro could find himself set for an extended run in the first team whilst new signing Patrick Dorgu will allow either Noussair Mazraoui or Dalot to play as a centre-back if needed.
Feature image Matt McNulty via Getty Images
Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
Conner Botterill
Conner Botterill has been with The Peoples Person for two years. A keen match-going red with degrees in Sport and Journalism and Philosophy and Psychology, Conner still believes he has a chance of making United’s first team through his 5-a-side career.
