Manchester United coach explains why 'promising' summer signing hasn't played yet

Manchester United are taking their time with summer signing Diego Leon as they looks to gradually ease him into action at his new club.

The 18-year-old completed his move to Manchester in the summer after a deal had originally been agreed at the start of the year. Leon signed an initial five-year deal as part of a transfer fee that could eventually be worth as much as £7 million. United paid Paraguayan club Cerro Porteño an initial fee in the region of £3.2m, with add-ons that could eventually see it rise to a higher figure.

United's plan was always to give Leon time to adapt to his new surroundings with the U21 side before they could fully gauge where his development is at. Once he is up to match fitness, United will then make the decision to oversee his development in-house or consider a European loan move for him next year.

Why Diego Leon hasn't made United debut yet

Manchester United U21 coach Travis Binnion believes Diego Leon needs to play full matches at youth level in the next stage of his development plan.

Leon started the season on the fringes of the United first-team before he dropped down to U21 level to build his match sharpness and improve his physicality. The teenage left-back struggled on his U21 debut against Liverpool but impressed when he played three matches in the space of eight days last month.

The 18-year-old could be involved when United face Notts County in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night and he is expected to be called up for the Paraguay national team later this week after he made his international debut last month. These experiences should all help Leon on his path to becoming a first-team regular at Old Trafford.

"I think you can see the improvement from the Liverpool game when he played 45 minutes into Barnsley, where I thought he started ever so well, then into Tottenham where he looked fitter and got his goal," Binnion said. "The other night at Rochdale I thought he looked really comfortable.

"He is on managed minutes. He has played a few games really quickly but it is evident for all to see that he has some real qualities and some strong foundations to his game that he has to build on. He is aware, we are all aware he has stuff to work on. But to be fair to kid he has not played a full 90 minutes yet. We will be looking to tick that off pretty soon. That will be really good for him. If he can get a run of 90 minutes, it is fair to look at his game and see where he is at. At this moment in time he has shown real glimpses of promise. He has fitted in with the group really well. He is a lovely kid."

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