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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Daniel Murphy

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told solution to Manchester United's left-back problem for Crystal Palace game

Manchester United fans believe that Diogo Dalot should come in at left-back if Luke Shaw and Brandon Williams are both unavailable to face Crystal Palace on Thursday.

United missed out on the chance to jump up to third place in the Premier League on Monday as they conceded a last minute equaliser to draw 2-2 with Southampton at Old Trafford.

The match proved to be even more costly as United suffered a double injury blow with the club's two natural left-backs both having to leave the pitch.

Shaw was the first to pick up an injury as he twisted his ankle and, though he tried to run off the injury and continue, he was substituted in the 75th minute.

Solskjaer has confirmed that the 25-year-old will undergo a scan to discover the extent of the injury. "Luke twisted his ankle," he said. "So hopefully we can have some good news on him after they've done the scan."

Williams came on for Shaw but as the match entered added time he suffered a nasty-looking head injury as he accidentally collided with Southampton's Kyle Walker-Peters.

The 19-year-old received lengthy treatment on the pitch as blood poured from his forehead and he eventually had to leave the pitch without a replacement coming on as United were out of substitution slots, reducing them to 10 men.

Solskjaer revealed that the injury required stitches and that Williams' condition will continue to be monitored ahead of Thursday's game.

"He's got a cut above his eye," he told Sky Sports. " I've not been to see him yet but he's with the medical staff."

"I think he was getting some stitches with the gash over his eye, so let’s see how he is," he added to MUTV.

Brandon Williams receives treatment on the field. (Getty)

United now face the prospect of travelling to Crystal Palace without a specialist left-back available and M.E.N. Sport asked supporters: "If Luke Shaw and Brandon Williams are both unavailable, who should play left-back against Crystal Palace on Thursday?"

The winner with 53 per cent of the 3,995 votes was Dalot, who has had his own injury problems this season and found his game time limited.

The naturally right-sided player has filled in on the left before and is the most obvious choice to come in to the side, but he hasn't been involved in the last nine Premier League matchday squads and last started a league match against Newcastle in October, in which he had to come off due to injury.

In second place with 32 per cent of the vote was young full-back Ethan Laird, who has been making waves at youth level this season.

The 18-year-old has already made two appearances for the seniors, against Astana and AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League, and has been promoted to first team training in recent weeks. However, he is also naturally a right-back.

In third place came Eric Bailly with 12 per cent of the vote, who has filled in as a makeshift full-back in the past but not with a great results. Finally on 3 per cent came 'other' with some fans suggesting Fred could play in the back-line as he slotted in to the left-back when Williams was taken off against the Saints.

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