Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Erik ten Hag 'considering major Jonny Evans change' amid Man United injury crisis

sportsmole.co.uk, 14 October 2024, 17:31
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is reportedly ready to field Jonny Evans in an unfamiliar position as he works around a defensive selection crisis.

The Red Devils are set to return from the international break with depleted options at full-back, as summer signing Noussair Mazraoui recently underwent an operation to address heart palpitations.

In addition, long-term absentee Tyrell Malacia is still working his way back from a severe knee problem, while the injury-riddled Luke Shaw is still uncertain for the weekend's clash with Brentford due to his calf concern.

Man United's defensive concerns are not limited to the wide areas, as Leny Yoro is on the mend from his pre-season foot fracture, and Harry Maguire recently confirmed that a calf issue will sideline him for a few weeks.

With Mazraoui sidelined for a number of weeks, Diogo Dalot - who has been filling in on the left flank of late - is expected to revert to his familiar right-back role, leaving Ten Hag in a pickle on the opposite side.

Evans to play left-back against Brentford?

According to The Mirror, Ten Hag will have no qualms about fielding Evans as an emergency left-back against Brentford if need be, as he is likely to be without a total of five defenders for the visit of the Bees.

Lisandro Martinez would represent a more natural option at left-back, but with Yoro and Maguire both out, he is likely to be required in the middle of the backline alongside Matthijs de Ligt.

As a result, Ten Hag is supposedly open to fielding Evans out wide when Thomas Frank's side come to Old Trafford, on what would be just the 36-year-old's second start of the Premier League season.

Despite his recent lack of action, Evans put in a man-of-the-match performance in the Red Devils' goalless draw with Aston Villa two weekends ago, and he is not a total stranger to playing at left-back.

The Northern Ireland international - who is equally competent on his right and left foot - made a handful of appearances in that position earlier in his career, including 12 in the 2015-16 Premier League season with West Bromwich Albion.

How else can Ten Hag solve defensive crisis?

As if Ten Hag did not have enough to worry about without a growing injury crisis - the Dutchman could hardly be under more pressure to glean a positive result this weekend after overseeing Man United's worst-ever start to a Premier League season.

The former Ajax boss can go down a few different paths for the Brentford game, though, as Martinez could still play on the left-hand side, with Evans and De Ligt partnering up in the centre.

Victor Lindelof is another option and could do a job in either the heart of defence or on the left, but the Swede is ostensibly below the 36-year-old Evans in the pecking order.

Should Ten Hag decide to take a punt on youth instead, he could promote 20-year-old Toby Collyer to the first XI; he completed the full 90 at left-back in last month's 7-0 EFL Cup demolition of Barnsley.

Man United occupy a lowly 14th place in the Premier League table, taking just eight points from their first seven games of the new term while only netting five goals.

Top News

22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly told Mykhaylo Mudryk that he is still in their first-team plans ahead of the January transfer window. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has reportedly not yet made a full recovery from the knock he suffered prior to the international break. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Legendary striker Robert Lewandowski has revealed he was close to joining Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in 2012. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Xabi Alonso will hope that his Bayer Leverkusen side can return to winning ways when they welcome strugglers Heidenheim to BayArena in their 11th Bundesliga game of the campaign on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Wayne Rooney gives Romeo Montague a run for his money with wife Coleen revealing he writes her love poetry. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Six places separate Wolfsburg and Union Berlin in the Bundesliga table ahead of Saturday's gameweek 11 match at the Volkswagen Arena. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Borussia Dortmund have already fallen behind in the title race and will at least aim to stay within touching distance of the Champions League qualifications spots when they welcome Freiburg to Signal Iduna Park on Saturday in their 11th Bundesliga game of the campaign. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A crunch clash at the bottom sees Heracles and RKC Waalwijk go head to head at the Asito Stadium on Saturday evening in gameweek 13 of the Eredivisie season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Stuttgart sit a disappointing 11th in the Bundesliga table before welcoming cellar-dwelling VfL Bochum in Saturday's gameweek 11 action at the MHPArena. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford boss Thomas Frank has confirmed that Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa will both be available for Saturday's Premier League away meeting with Everton. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica and Estrela Amadora return to action on Saturday when they go head to head at the Estadio da Luz in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal. 21 November 2024 talksport.com West Ham have sounded out former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic as a potential replacement for Julen Lopetegui, talkSPORT understands. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to move back into the top six of the League One table, Huddersfield Town will welcome Charlton Athletic to the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com talkSPORT's Ally McCoist has opened up about living with Dupuytren's contracture, an incurable hereditary condition that affects the hands. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Luton Town will welcome Hull City to Kenilworth Road on Saturday for a crucial game at the bottom end of the Championship table. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Martin Odegaard is everything for Arsenal - he's at the heartbeat of everything positive they do. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to go top of the Championship table with a fifth straight victory, Sheffield United will travel to take on Coventry City on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk RB Leipzig will aim to prevent the five-point gap to Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich from extending by claiming all three points at Hoffenheim's PreZero Arena on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Champions League hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt will hope to maintain their five-point advantage over Werder Bremen after hosting them on Saturday at Deutsche Bank Park in their 11th Bundesliga outing of the season. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Newcastle defender Lewis Hall says his lack of game time in the first-team left him 'in a dark place' last season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams who could really do with a victory kick off round 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season as Go Ahead Eagles welcome Almere City to De Adelaarshorst on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Promotion-chasing Barnsley are favourites heading into Saturday's gameweek 17 League One match at Oakwell. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Feyenoord and Heerenveen will both be looking to pick up where they left off right before the international break in Saturday's meeting at De Kuip in matchday 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City officially announce that manager Pep Guardiola has signed a two-year contract extension. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Girona will be bidding to make it three straight wins in La Liga for the first time this season when they welcome Espanyol to Estadi Montilivi on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk An in-form Las Palmas will be aiming to make it five wins from their last six matches in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign at home to Mallorca on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Following four straight defeats leading into the international break, Aston Villa will return to action on Saturday, when Crystal Palace pay a visit to Villa Park. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly set a £100m asking price for Enzo Fernandez amid interest from Real Madrid. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Saudi Pro League action will return to the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium this weekend when Al Khaleej play host to the defending champions Al-Hilal on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atletico Madrid will be aiming to make it five straight wins in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign against Alaves at Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday afternoon.