SPORTING ALERT – Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal could recall Ashley Young to the starting lineup for Tuesday’s Champions League Group B clash at PSV Eindhoven.
Young, who was one of the highlighted players for Manchester United last season, lost his place in the first-team summer recruit Memphis Depay, who has been favoured to start on the left flank by Van Gaal.
However, with Depay’s form a bit down at the moment, the Dutchman could very well make way for Young, who impressed his manager when coming on as a halftime substitute for the 21-year-old at the weekend.
Depay scored twice in the playoffs against Club Brugge in the first leg tie at Old Trafford, but the former PSV winger has not been able to replicate that performance and could lose his place in the starting team.
Young brought some sparks to what had been a very dull first half of football by Manchester United against Liverpool on Saturday and he played a hand in two of the goals scored by the hosts, including the third by Anthony Martial in the final minutes.
With Wayne Rooney unavailable for this game and Marouane Fellaini expected to continue up front, Young’s willingness to send in early crosses to the targeted Belgian could work in favour of United.
The England international’s link up play with Martial and his readiness to play early through balls to his teammates also makes him a firm candidate to come into the starting XI.
There is also a possibility that the 30-year-old could be used as a striker.
He’s done it before for England on international duties.
Should Van Gaal decide against starting Fellaini again in the attack, Ashely Young believes he’s intelligent enough to play that role and would love to play through the middle.
“If the manager wants me to play there then yes, of course I would,” he said. “I can play in lots of positions and I have done that under the manager, whether it is up front or in midfield.
“Hopefully I can play there [through the middle] but it’s up to the manager.”
