Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag ready to deploy surprise left-back as injury crisis continues

Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag is prepared to utilise Jonny Evans as an emergency left-back as he grapples with an injury crisis in defence.

The under-fire United manager is missing five defenders for Saturday's showdown with Brentford, and he'll be desperate to avoid a third consecutive Premier League loss at Old Trafford.

Absentees include left-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, centre-backs Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro, and right-back Noussair Mazraoui. With no recognised left-back available this season, Ten Hag has deployed Diogo Dalot in that position, while £17million summer recruit Mazraoui has been playing at right-back.

However, with Mazraoui now out for several weeks following a minor heart procedure after suffering from palpitations, Ten Hag faces another forced change in his defence.

Evans, 36, was Man of the Match in United's 0-0 draw at Aston Villa prior to the international break and could be played at left-back, allowing Dalot to return to his preferred right-back position, reports .

Another alternative for Ten Hag, given Shaw's likely unavailability for the Brentford match - which would be his first United appearance since February - could be to shift Lisandro Martinez to left-back and field Evans and Matthijs De Ligt in central defence.

Victor Lindelof made a comeback to the United line-up at Villa, taking over from Mazraoui as right-back, and may retain this position for the Brentford match, enabling Dalot to persist at left-back and Evans to hold his central defence position alongside De Ligt or Martinez.

Another possibility, which Ten Hag opted for during United's 7-0 thrashing of Barnsley in the League Cup last month, is to assign 20 year old midfielder Toby Collyer to the left-back role.

Ten Hag is under immense scrutiny following United's worst start to a Premier League season ever, leaving them languishing in 14th place with a mere two victories from seven matches.

United have only managed to net five goals in the league and have a goal difference of minus three, piling pressure on Ten Hag to immediately rectify the situation, with his job hanging in the balance.

In addition to defensive concerns, Ten Hag is uncertain about two of his most promising young stars, midfielder Kobbie Mainoo and winger Alejandro Garnacho, both of whom withdrew from the England and Argentina squads respectively during the international break.

Mainoo pulled out of Lee Carsley's England squad due to a thigh issue, while a knee problem stopped Garnacho from joining the Argentina squad.

Ten Hag's current injury woes are nothing new, with United enduring over 60 separate injuries last season, culminating in their lowest-ever Premier League finish as they placed eighth.