Manchester United vs. Crystal Palace could see Jose Mourinho test out a new partnership on the right side of the pitch. “That feeling when you’re ready to help your team again.” Diogo Dalot’s Instagram post on Monday afternoon got Manchester United fans back in the mood for a bit of club football after a week of post-derby negativity. Injury has restricted the 19-year-old defender to just two outings in a red shirt since his summer transfer from Porto – and neither of those appearances have come in the Premier League. That could all change this weekend, though. With Luke Shaw suspended and Antonio Valencia out of favour, Dalot is firmly in contention to line up on the right side of United’s back four against Crystal Palace – despite his lack of match fitness.
Mourinho will likely have little concern throwing Dalot in from the start on Saturday given how seamlessly he slotted into the team on his debut against Young Boys after five months out of action. Dalot’s debut in Switzerland was one of the most impressive by a United player in recent years. There was one minor lapse at the back against the Bern club but on the whole his performance was defensively sound and going forward he was mightily impressive. Dalot delivered a number of menacing crosses during the 3-0 victory and on one foray forward the teenager showed Phil Neville how a full-back should use step-overs. That enterprising performance in Switzerland suggested Dalot was ready to make the permanent step up to United’s first team but fans have barely seen him since, with his last appearance coming in the League Cup defeat by Derby – a game in which one of his fine crosses provided the equaliser for Marouane Fellaini’s injury-time equaliser.
Marcus Rashford was Dalot’s right-sided partner against Young Boys but the 21-year-old is an injury doubt after limping out of England’s Nations League win over Croatia on Sunday. Jesse Lingard started the Manchester derby on the right and, despite his disappointing showing at the Etihad, is likely to get the nod there again when Palace come to town. United missed his energy in the final third during his five weeks out of the team across September and October, and the Warrington-born attacker’s confidence will be high after his equalising goal at Wembley. Dalot struck up a promising understanding with Rashford in Europe so he should have no problem doing that with Lingard, whose game intelligence is superior to his England teammates. It was at around this stage last season when Lingard started his run of nine goals in 13 games and Mourinho will be hoping for more of the same between now and Christmas, with United facing key fixtures in the Premier League and Champions League that will shape the rest of their season.
