Victor Lindelof has made 200 appearances for Man Utd (Photo: Getty)
Former Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre believes that Victor Lindelof can break into Erik ten Hag’s first choice starting XI.
At the start of the season, Lindelof looked like he would struggle for game-time at Old Trafford, with the Sweden international the fourth-choice centre-back at United behind Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire.
However, with Varane and Maguire joining fellow defenders Axel Tuanzebe, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Brandon Williams on the sidelines with injury, Lindelof has become a nailed on starter in recent games.
Lindelof made his 200th appearance for the club last Sunday in the 2-1 win at Everton, having joined the Red Devils from Benfica in 2017, but his spell in Manchester hasn’t always been easy.
Nevertheless, Silvestre has backed the 28-year-old to perform well while in the team and says that his good form will delight Ten Hag who needs as much squad depth as possible to compete with United’s rivals.
‘I think Victor, since he joined United, has been consistent,’ the Premier League and Champions League winner told bettingexpert.
‘Despite having different partners or managers, he’s maintained his level overall. Passing is one of his qualities. His vision, trying to find the interval, break the lines.
Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez have been Man Utd’s first choice centre-back pairing this season (Photo: Getty)
‘In terms of challenging the other centre-backs, he’s making a case every time he plays. It’s good for the team, good for him as well and obviously very good for the manager.
‘He can count on four solid centre-backs, which hasn’t been the case for a long time.’
Lindelof is very likely to start United’s Europa League clash with Omonoia on Thursday night, and the defender is hoping to register his first clean sheet of the season.
‘I think the feeling in the group is very good, he said during the pre-match press conference.
‘We have a lot of good players and good people in the squad who make it good energy.
‘At a club you always have good team spirit and we have it at the moment. We hope we can carry keep improving, keep performing and keep winning games.’
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United have five senior defenders out injured.