Portugal U21 right-back Diogo Dalot is set to make his Premier League debut for Manchester United on Saturday against Southampton.
The 19-year-old has made two previous appearances for United since joining in the summer, starting in September’s Champions League win over Young Boys and then in the shock Carabao Cup loss to Derby County – in which he set up United’s dramatic late equaliser before they lost on penalties.
Dalot was a £19million signing from Porto this summer, with the player being highly-rated by scouts ahead of his move.
“This weekend will be the first call for Dalot,” Jose Mourinho told MUTV on Friday. “He’s ready now.”
”He had an important injury and then surgery, and then a second injury with the national team [Portugal Under-21s] when he was already playing against Young Boys and Derby County.
“When he was almost there, he was injured for the national team but now he’s had two weeks of training and we think he’s ready now.”
Right-back has been a problem position for United this season, with Antonio Valencia having been injured and also falling out with Mourinho.
Matteo Darmian was given his first league start of the season last weekend, when Ashley Young, United’s regular right-back, moved to left-back to cover for Luke Shaw’s absence through suspension. Shaw is back this weekend.
