Leny Yoro has been handed immediate Manchester United challenge by unlikely star

It feels like Christmas has come early for Manchester United fans ahead of their trip to face Arsenal in the Premier League. They wished for a star signing in the summer, and they got one. Then he got injured.

Leny Yoro never made a competitive appearance for Erik ten Hag after he fractured his metatarsal during a pre-season clash with Arsenal, but is expected to be in the squad for Ruben Amorim's toughest test yet in midweek when they face the same opponents.

The 19-year-old returned to first-team training during last month's international break but has not been involved in Amorim's first three matches in charge, as the club looked to carefully ease him back into action after three months out. Yoro is expected to earn a place on the bench at the Emirates and could make cameos against both Arsenal and Nottingham Forest before he is ready for a first full start against FC Viktoria Plzeň next week.

That's if he deserves to. Amorim is aware he will need to rotate his squad throughout the festive period, not only to manage their minutes, but to also bring as many players up to speed with his tactical demands as possible. The head coach anticipates a clearer 'first XI' will be in place towards the end of the season, but until then, places are very much for grabs.

Yoro is one of those expected to eventually nail down a starting role in the United defence and it can't be underestimated just how much of a coup his signing was in the summer. Real Madrid would have signed him themselves if not for their lucrative deal to sign Kylian Mbappe. Yet right now, his ideal role in the starting line up is already occupied.

The French teenager has been pencilled in for a right centre-back role as part of Amorim's back three, a position currently occupied by the excellent Noussair Mazraoui. The Moroccan has showcased tremendous versatility in his first few months at the club and has arguably been their best outfield player of the season so far.

Mazraoui has played in every defensive position as well as at attacking midfield already, but in their new tactical line up, he looks best-suited to one of the three central roles. It is most likely he will occupy a squad role by the end of the season, a reliable player who can be dropped into the starting line up at short notice and do a good job wherever he plays. For now though, he deserves to be starting.

It might appear to be a problem at first glance, really it is a huge boost. United are delighted to have Yoro available for selection but he does not return to the fold as the saviour and will have to work hard if he is to match the standards set by Mazraoui, never mind if he is to exceed them altogether.

There is still plenty of work to be done in order to strengthen United's squad depth, but in central defence it finally feels like they have some worthy replacements for their star performers. Yoro is back, he is not back in the team.