Manchester United have been dealt a potentially huge injury blow regarding Diogo Dalot.
What’s the latest?
That’s according to a report by Stretty News, who claim that, towards the end of Portugal’s shock World Cup quarter-final defeat to Morocco on Saturday afternoon, the United right-back appeared to pick up a serious-looking hamstring injury, with the 23-year-old seeming to be in a great deal of discomfort as he was brought off.
Regarding the knock sustained by the defender, the report said: “The young full-back has enjoyed a stellar season but toward the end of their narrow defeat to Morocco, he pulled up with what looked to be a hamstring injury.
“He was almost immediately withdrawn from the game and he looked to be in real discomfort as he briefed the issue to Portugal’s medical team.”
Huge blow
Considering just how impressive Dalot has been on the right-hand side of Erik ten Hag’s backline so far this season, should the right-back now be set to spend an extended spell on the sidelines ahead of United’s return to Premier League football later this month, it would undoubtedly come as a huge blow to the Dutchman and his side.
Indeed, over his 13 Premier League appearances in the current campaign, the £34.5m-rated talent has been in fine defensive form, helping his side keep five clean sheets, in addition to making an average of 2.1 tackles, 1.5 interceptions, 2.0 clearances and winning 4.8 duels – at a success rate of 58% – per game.
The £25k-per-week defender has also chipped in for the Red Devils going forwards, registering one assist and creating one big chance for his teammates, as well as making an average of 1.5 key passes, 0.9 crosses and completing 0.7 dribbles per match.
These returns have seen the Portugal international average an extremely impressive Sofascore match rating of 7.06, currently ranking him as Ten Hag’s fifth-best performer in the top flight of English football.
Furthermore, with the 52-year-old manager clearly not being a fan of Aaron Wan-Bissaka – United’s second-choice right-back, who has played just four minutes of Premier League football this term – it is clear to see exactly how big of a loss Dalot will be for the Dutchman ahead of the return of top-flight football later this month.