Erik ten Hag has three options to solve Manchester United's left back crisis during Luke Shaw's absence

Manchester United's first two games of the season haven't been quite as bad as a year ago, but the relentlessly negative off-pitch news has intensified concerns.

Erik ten Hag's side are three points better off than they were in 2022, although that could have been different had luck not been on their side at home to Wolves last Monday. That 90 minutes was where the good fortune ended, however, with last weekend's 2-0 defeat at Tottenham compounded by injuries to Mason Mount and then Luke Shaw this week.

News of the latter's issue came as a particular sucker punch. United announced earlier this week that their left-back would be absent for 'a number of weeks' but there are fears the prognosis could be closer to two months and the timing could not be worse.

Tyrell Malacia is yet to feature this season after returning from holiday with an unspecified injury, while Brandon Williams secured his loan move to Ipswich on Thursday. It leaves Ten Hag with just one fit left-back, in untested Alvaro Fernandez, going into this afternoon's meeting with Nottingham Forest and the upcoming fixtures.

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There are only five days until Friday's 11pm transfer deadline, giving Ten Hag little time to dip into the market for a position he did not expect to strengthen. The Dutchman does have options in his current squad and MEN Sport have assessed how he could proceed

When United welcome Forest to Old Trafford this afternoon, Ten Hag will almost certainly move Diogo Dalot across to left-back. The Portugal international fulfilled the role in Shaw's absence several times last season - including United's last game against Steve Cooper's side, when he performed well and scored.

Dalot