Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim hits back at Patrick Dorgu critics

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Ruben Amorim said Patrick Dorgu will continue to get games as a right wing-back for Manchester United, despite being signed as a left-footer to fill a position that had long been a problem.

United let left-back Tyrell Malacia join PSV Eindhoven on loan after signing Dorgu for an initial £25million from Lecce and although the 20-year-old has played on the right, the majority of his football has come on his natural flank.

He was parachuted straight into the team to make his debut against Leicester City in the FA Cup fourth round and it was a surprise to see him line up on the right, with Diogo Dalot continuing in the left wing-back role in which he has looked so uncomfortable.

Dorgu played 45 minutes against the Foxes before being withdrawn for Alejandro Garnacho, who helped change the game, and Amorim defended his decision to play the Dane on the right, telling critics of the move that a little research would reveal he can play on that side.

"He played a lot of time at Lecce on the right and the left. That is one of the characteristics we pay attention to a lot, to have a player like him," he said.

"He was a little bit anxious with first touch of the ball. It’s a different league for him, different speed of the game, but he did well. He had pace, strength, he will improve a lot and we as a team need to play better to help these new guys to perform at the right level.

"The position, you can see in WyScout he can play both sides."

United had no natural wide players on either flank, with left-footers Dorgu and Amad on the right and right-footers Dalot and Kobbie Mainoo towards the left.

But Amorim stressed that Dorgu will continue to get games on the right and that he feels that inversion is sometimes required from his wide players.

"Yes, yes. If you see the history of Dorgu in the last team he played a lot of games on the right," said Amorim. "We have to have wingers who can play both sides like Dalot. It’s a really important thing.

"Sometimes you need a left foot on the right side to come inside and connect in a different way, and sometimes you need a right-footer to connect and cross more balls."

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