Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag says Tyrell Malacia “did a great job” filling in at right-back in the club’s 2-1 win over Fulham.
The Netherlands international is a left-back by trade but Diogo Dalot's suspension forced Ten Hag to select a makeshift option on the opposite flank, and it was Malacia who got the nod.
He was troubled by the likes of Willian and former Reds midfielder Andreas Pereira, though, and was caught high up the pitch for Fulham’s equaliser. However, he became more stable towards the latter stages of the game and produced a decent display given he was playing in an unfamiliar position.
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Ten Hag deemed his performance to be up to scratch and felt he accommodated his shortfalls well. Speaking to Via Play, Ten Hag said Malacia “did a great job,” adding: “I had already seen at training that he can do that just as well as at left back.
“He can also play well on the right. Of course there are points if you are left-legged and play on that flank that it is more difficult, but he has found the balance well.”
After ousting Luke Shaw at left-back at the beginning of the season, Malacia has seen Shaw regain his spot and didn't feature in the Premier League in October beyond the 6-3 derby defeat to Manchester City on the 2nd.
During that time he made two starts in the Europa League and has since played the whole 90 minutes in the 4-2 League Cup win over Aston Villa after enjoying his first league outing in a month in the previous 3-1 defeat by Villa four days earlier.
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