Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has said that he views Sofyan Amrabat as a player capable of operating in a number of different positions.
The 27-year-old completed a loan switch to Old Trafford from Fiorentina on transfer deadline day, but he will not be available to make his debut against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday due to injury.
Ten Hag has called Amrabat a "typical holding midfield player", but the head coach has also claimed that the deadline-day arrival can play alongside Casemiro, further forward, and as both a wing-back and a full-back.
"What we missed in our squad was behind Casemiro, another one - so a typical holding midfield player," Ten Hag told reporters when discussing the Morocco international.
© Reuters
"So we have him [Casemiro] and you see the overload in games. We need a type [like that], but also Amrabat can play alongside Casemiro.
"He is also capable of playing in a higher position on the pitch and even he can play as a wing-back or a full-back."
Amrabat is yet to feature this season, as he was not used by Fiorentina early in the campaign due to the speculation surrounding his future.
Meanwhile, he was forced to withdraw from the Morocco squad over the international break due to injury, which has also prevented him from being available against Brighton.
Amrabat, who played under Ten Hag at FC Utrecht earlier in his career, is only on loan at Man United, but the club will have the option to make the deal permanent during next summer's transfer window.
© Reuters
The Red Devils will be aiming to bounce back from their loss to Arsenal before the international break when they welcome Brighton to Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon, but Ten Hag is under no illusions when it comes to the size of the task against a "very good side".
"It's a very good side but I love to play against them. And, last year, we had two incredible, good matches. One we won, in a semi-final against them at Wembley," said the manager.
"One, we lose in the last dying seconds of the game. So it's really head to head. We know we have to be good, so we have to do and put in everything to get the right result."
Man United will then switch their attention to the Champions League, with the team heading to Germany next week for their group-stage opener against Bayern Munich.
Matt Law
