As Manchester United prepares for the return of Premier League football at Old Trafford, they face a right-wing problem with the potential absence of Antony and Jadon Sancho.
Erik ten Hag resumed his duties at Carrington on Monday amidst a flurry of off-field issues, which may have momentarily overshadowed the imminent football match.
The international break proved far from restful for Manchester United, with numerous problems surfacing as players represented their countries. Jadon Sancho stirred controversy by claiming he was unfairly scapegoated for his omission from the squad against Arsenal. Additionally, confirmation of Antony’s leave of absence due to ongoing abuse allegations further complicates the situation.
Antony, opting to remain in Brazil to address the allegations, will likely miss the upcoming game, and Sancho’s future at the club remains uncertain. His pinned post on social media suggests a lack of willingness to back down.
As Ten Hag prepares to face Brighton, he may need to navigate this challenge without his senior right-wing options. This presents a significant selection dilemma, with three possible solutions:
Pellistri gets his chance:
The most natural fit to slot in on the right is Facundo Pellistri, who operates on that side regularly when coming off the bench at United. The 21-year-old has never failed to impress as an impact substitute and would be the exciting choice for supporters.
Pellistri has been away on international duty with Uruguay, and spoke fondly of learning quickly under new manager Marcelo Bielsa. The former Leeds boss values wingers who are devastating in transition and hard-working in defence – much like Ten Hag – with his decision to start the Reds youngster vindication of his quality in both areas.
However, with United already under the microscope for a slow start to the season, Ten Hag might be minded to opt for experience. Pellistri is yet to start a Premier League match and many of his appearances have come in the dying minutes. Being involved from the off is a whole different ball game.
Mason Mount, Alejandro Garnacho or Facundo Pellistri could start on the right wing
Left-winger moved across:
Marcus Rashford finally got off the mark against Arsenal and his goal was proof of how devastating he can be when cutting in from the left. But he has done a job on the right in the past and can be trusted to produce in the final third from anywhere across the front three.
Similarly, Alejandro Garnacho’s best work comes on the left but the young Argentinian would no doubt snap at the chance to start in any position. The 19-year-old has struggled in the early parts of the season but a chance to nail down the role for a few weeks could be enough to bring the best out of him.
Ten Hag could move one of Rashford or Garnacho across to the right-wing, potentially giving both the freedom to switch as they feel necessary. But it would likely cause frustration to see them forced into an unnatural role and quiet as a result.
Wide playmaker:
Ten Hag would often move Bruno Fernandes out to the right in big games last season, with the likes of Scott McTominay or Fred shoring up central midfield and United’s creativity coming through wide areas. It worked to perfection during the 2-1 win against Manchester City in January.
In this sense, Mason Mount looks to be the tailor-made option to move out wide, possessing a little more pace and ability to stay wide as well as the technical quality to drift inside. For Brighton specifically, the 24-year-old’s defensive work-rate would be an added bonus against the tireless Pervis Estupinan.
However, no one can pretend that Mount has hit the ground running at United and the midfielder may not even be fit in time, having missed the games against Nottingham Forest.
Ten Hag’s decision hinges on factors like player form, fitness, and the specific demands of the Brighton match. As he seeks the best solution to address the right-wing problem, the manager faces a challenging task.
