Erik ten Hag could make 17-year-old the 251st Manchester United academy graduate this weekend as senior star looks exhausted.
After playing on Sunday and then Wednesday, facing Burnley on Saturday means it’s three games in less than a week for Manchester United.
This fixture load at this point in the season may simply be too much for some players who’ve already practically played every single minute.
For Diogo Dalot this could be the case, as he’s looked absolutely knackered in recent weeks, especially after Wednesday’s 4-2 win over Sheffield United.
This could leave Erik ten Hag needing to rest the Portugal international, particularly with little left to play for in the league.
If this is the case, there could be the perfect option waiting on the bench to make his debut.
Erik ten Hag should make Harry Amass the 251st academy graduate this weekend
For United, this Saturday against Burnley should really be a formality and therefore it could be the perfect game to afford Dalot some rest in, with more difficult games on the horizon.
Therefore it could finally be time to give 17-year-old left-back Harry Amass his senior debut, after a month of sitting on the bench.
This debut would come days after the 250th academy graduate was Ethan Wheatley, and would be a testament to Ten Hag’s trust in the youth.
With Amass on the left, this would allow Aaron Wan-Bissaka to play on the right. The teenager would have the experienced and excellent Harry Maguire next to him as well to shepherd him through the game.
So, this is definitely a move we could get on board with as Amass is ready to make his debut, particularly in such a low-stakes game which is ideal for a debut.
But if Ten Hag doesn’t fancy Amass to replace Dalot for this game – assuming he’s given a deserved and required rest – there is another option who’d also be the 251st graduate.
Habeeb Ogunneye is another option to give Dalot a rest for Manchester United
Another young full-back who’s been on the bench for a long time now is Habeeb Ogunneye, and he would be another option to give Dalot a rest.
Ogunneye is a right-back and so would see Wan-Bissaka have to move to left-back, but certainly has the qualities needed to make his debut.
He is 18 and may be seen as more ready to make that step up than Amass.
Either way, Ten Hag mustn’t risk getting Dalot injured by overplaying him when there’s no need while he looks so worn out – it’d be the last thing United need.
