After making a promising start to his Manchester United career following a summer switch, the past few months have not quite gone to plan for Tyrell Malacia. The young Dutch defender appeared as though he had asserted himself as the first-choice left-back - delivering strong performances against Liverpool and Arsenal - but he soon lost his place to Luke Shaw and has been unable to get it back.
The 23-year-old started on the bench for the first two Premier League games of the season, but once he did get his chance, he demonstrated exactly why Erik ten Hag was so keen to bring him to the club. However, Malacia, like many of his teammates, struggled in the 6-3 derby defeat to Manchester City last month and since then he has only featured once in the league.
Shaw was backed by many to be United's first-choice left-back this term, and Malacia was tipped to learn from the England international as he looked to progress in his career. Given that the Dutchman is still young, and is certainly still improving, his lack of game time is far from concerning, but it has definitely surprised some people.
Earlier this week, former United defender Patrice Evra questioned why summer signing Malacia had 'disappeared' following an impressive start to his Old Trafford career. The Frenchman admitted that he was confused by the Dutchman's lack of game time, before insisting that people were too quick to label the young left-back the 'new Patrice Evra'.
"I don’t know if he’ll play some young players, or if he’s going to play Tyrell Malacia because he’s just disappeared," Evra told Betfair before United's clash with Aston Villa.
"Everyone was excited about him, people were saying he is the new Patrice Evra, but to be that you need to perform for nine years, not just for four or five games. I love Malacia, I’ve talked with him and I think he can make it.
"A player plays three or four games and people are calling him the best, the new Evra, the new Zidane, the new Ronaldo, the new Messi.
"Before all that, people need to look at statistics, consistency and how many years those players have performed at the highest level.
"People compare Haaland and Mbappe to Messi and Ronaldo, you can’t do this. Those GOATS have been GOATS for 15 years."
With Malacia set to be included in the Netherlands' World Cup squad for the upcoming tournament in Qatar, some time away from Manchester could do the youngster good - especially considering that he is in with a good chance of starting for Louis van Gaal's side if selected.
The left-back has made six appearances for his country, which included one game at centre-back as former United boss Van Gaal experimented with his side ahead of the World Cup. Should Malacia feature for the Netherlands in Qatar, it provides him with an opportunity to get much-needed minutes under his belt
Given that United will face an intense period once the domestic season resumes, Malacia will get more chances to play for United - regardless of how often he features for his country at the World Cup. The Dutchman will certainly get his chance to show that he has not 'disappeared' at Old Trafford.
While the World Cup is not traditionally a stage where players can regain sharpness, an extended run of games could go a long way in benefitting Malacia for the rest of the campaign. He will be needed, but he has to prove that he can get back to the levels he set at the start of the campaign.