Fansided

10 young players to watch

By James Dudko

Fulham's English defender Ryan Sessegnon (C) makes a through pass in the build up to the opening goal by Fulham's English midfielder Tom Cairney during the English Championship play-off final football match between Aston Villa and Fulham at Wembley Stadium in London on May 26, 2018. (Photo by Ian KINGTON / AFP) / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images)
Fulham's English defender Ryan Sessegnon (C) makes a through pass in the build up to the opening goal by Fulham's English midfielder Tom Cairney during the English Championship play-off final football match between Aston Villa and Fulham at Wembley Stadium in London on May 26, 2018. (Photo by Ian KINGTON / AFP) / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images) /
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – JUNE 05: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE ) Manchester United unveil new signing Diogo Dalot at Aon Training Complex on June 5, 2018 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Manchester United/Man Utd via Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – JUNE 05: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE ) Manchester United unveil new signing Diogo Dalot at Aon Training Complex on June 5, 2018 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Manchester United/Man Utd via Getty Images) /

8. Diogo Dalot, Manchester United

Diogo Dalot’s Manchester United career has begun in rocky fashion. The versatile full-back is out until September after a procedure to fix a knee injury suffered at former club Porto.

It means there’s a delay in United finding out if this 19-year-old can solve underlying but significant issues at full-back. The left side remains a question mark, with Luke Shaw still needing to win manager Jose Mourinho over and supplant 33-year-old right-footer Ashley Young.

Speaking of the right, things are just as murky thanks to skipper Antonio Valencia’s calf injury. Mourinho criticized how the 32-year-old has spent his offseason, during an interview with MUTV (h/t Sky Sports): “Antonio Valencia comes from holiday — I think too much holiday for him. His condition was not good when he was back, then injury and also go back.”

These issues mean Dalot will get his chances once he’s fit. He’s already doing his part, having begun working with the ball “for the first time in two months,” according to Ciaran Kelly of the Manchester Evening News.

It’s good news regarding a player United felt compelled to spend £19 million on, despite the fact he made just seven appearances in the Porto first team. The fee is a sign those at England’s most successful club see something special in a teenage defender who could become a fixture in Mourinho’s best starting XI before the season ends.