Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has praised defender Tyrell Malacia, insisting he “did a great job” as a right back against Fulham.
Malacia has been impressing at Manchester United since arriving in the summer from Feyenoord as Ten Hag’s first signing of the window.
He was initially signed as competition at left-back and quickly established himself as the first choice in that position at the beginning of the season.
Luke Shaw has battled his way back into contention, though, with Malacia finding himself back out of the team and competing to get in.
He was given that chance over the weekend but in an new role at right-back, replacing the absent Diogo Dalot on the opposite flank than he is accustomed to.
It was only his fourth appearance as a right back in the entirety of his career, having done it once for Feyenoord in the league and twice in the Conference League play offs.
The 23-year-old didn’t show any signs of discomfort, though, impressing in Manchester United’s eventual 2-1 win over Fulham, and his manager was impressed.
“(He) did a great job,” Ten Hag told Via Play, relayed by Algemeen Dagblad.
“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.”
