Right-back Diogo Dalot will be walking a disciplinary tightrope when Manchester United face Aston Villa at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Portuguese international, who has started every game in all competitions for United so far this season, is just one booking away from being forced to serve a one-match suspension. Dalot has been booked on four occasions in the Premier League this season and a fifth will result in him being handed a one-match ban.
The former AC Milan loanee, who scored his first goal of the season in United's 3-0 win over Sheriff Tiraspol in the Europa League just over a week ago, has been cautioned in the clashes with Liverpool, Southampton, Leicester City and Manchester City so far this season. He has been treading a fine line in each of United's last five league fixtures.
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Dalot has, arguably, been United's most improved player so far this season, becoming a staple in manager Erik ten Hag's thinking. He has made the right-back berth his own and is now considered as one of the very first names on the teamsheet.
Therefore, losing him for a game would be a huge blow for Ten Hag and United, such is his importance to the way they play. Fellow right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka has racked up just four minutes worth of football this season, meaning he could struggle to play at a similar level if tasked with deputising for the Portugal international, in the event of him collecting his fifth caution of the campaign.
Dalot, who will have aspirations of being Portugal's starting right-back at the World Cup later this month, has gone from strength-to-strength under Ten Hag in recent months, and the Dutchman made a case for hailing his improvements after last weekend's 1-0 win over West Ham United, in which he produced an excellent defensive performance.
Ten Hag said: "I'm really happy with the development of Diogo. He's done really well.
"As you [Gary Neville] mentioned, you played in that position yourself, so you can be critical because you know how to play there, but I think his defending positions are growing from game to game. His timing, also his duels, is better from game to game.
"In possession, I think he's really good and he has the breath to go up and down [the wing]. The development is really good, but I have to mention that a club like Manchester United needs two good full-backs, because we have a lot of games to cover."
The cut-off point for players to avoid a one-match ban when picking up five yellow cards in the Premier League this season is not until December 31. Ten yellow cards will result in a two-game ban, with the cut-off point for that not being until the second Sunday in April.
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