Erik ten Hag drops major hint at tactical tweak following Luke Shaw’s return from injury ahead of Everton clash

ERIK TEN HAG has hinted at his masterplan to down Everton at the weekend.

Man Utd are back in action against the Toffees on Sunday following the international break.

The Red Devils have endured a difficult start to the season thanks, in part, to injuries to key stars.

However, Ten Hag has been boosted by the return of key players Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez in training this week.

United have sorely missed the pair and have often been forced to play a defensive line of all right-footers such as Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane, which has heavily hindered build-up.

Ten Hag in particular showed a desire to play a left-footed centre-back by deploying Shaw or Martinez last season.

And the former Ajax boss has suggested he will use the same tactic against Everton, if either of the pair are fit enough to start.

Speaking on Thursday, he said: “They (Maguire and Varane) can play together in certain games but from the start when I came in here, I want a player on the left side (centre-back) who is comfortable on this left side or left foot because it gives you more and better angles.”

This may suggest one of the club’s current starting centre-backs will be left out for the trip to Goodison Park.

Despite being a mainstay when fit last season, Varane has been out of favour following a dip in form.

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SunSport has exclusively revealed that the Frenchman has been left “stunned” at his situation after we revealed Ten Hag was willing to sell him.

An insider said: “The events of the past few weeks have left Raphael and his advisers stunned to say the least.

“Nobody saw this coming at the start of the season. It was made clear he was a key part of the team and would be a vital player for the club and the manager moving forward.

“Raphael was delighted with that. He’d settled in well in Manchester, he loves the club and the fans and fully expected to see out the final chapter of his career at Old Trafford.

“Now he’s the fourth choice centre back and he faces looking for a new club in the summer and a new challenge.”

SunSport understands that Varane has vowed to remain “focused” for the remainder of the season, despite the uncertainty surrounding his future. 

The source added: “He’s a professional who will train and work hard even if he’s not playing. It’s clear the manager has seen something he doesn’t like in recent weeks.

“He has said he has made changes for tactical reasons but everyone in and around the club is very surprised a player of Varane’s quality has fallen down the pecking order so fast.

“It doesn’t make much sense. Raphael’s advisers wonder if this is about his wages and the club wanted to offload with new investors coming in. 

“But Raphael hasn’t asked to leave and it’s not his desire to move on. That said, he wants to play football and it makes no sense for him or for the club for him to be sitting on the bench.”

Meanwhile, Sean Dyche‘s team will be looking to bounce back from the ten-point deduction handed to them by the Premier League for a breach of profit and sustainability rules.

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