Manchester United captain Ashley Young is "a leader in the dressing room", according to teammate Juan Mata.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka's big-money arrival during the summer saw Young start the season out of the team, although a recent injury to Luke Shaw has opened the door for the Englishman to return to the XI.

Young was named as club captain for the 2019-20 campaign following the departure of Antonio Valencia despite the fact that the 34-year-old is no longer guaranteed a spot in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side.

The former Watford youngster has also been criticised by sections of the United supporters over the last 12 months, but Mata has paid tribute to his teammate's leadership qualities.

"Ashley Young is a leader in the dressing room and he gets everyone ready for the games," The Mirror quotes him as saying.

The Red Devils have only won one of their four Premier League games at the start of the 2019-20 season, with a total of five points leaving them in eighth spot in the table.

Next up for the 20-time English champions is a home game against Leicester City on August 14, where Young could again deputise for the injured Shaw at left-back.