Jose praise for Lindelof vindicated

VICTOR LINDELOF has endured a frustrating start to his Manchester United career, most of it spent watching from the stands.

Since a chastening debut in United’s 2-1 UEFA Super Cup defeat to Real Madrid, he had been placed in cold storage by Jose Mourinho.

It amounted to a testing start for the 23-year-old, a £30million summer arrival from Benfica. But the double suspension of Phil Jones and Eric Bailly, United’s first-choice centre-backs, saw Lindelof (below) brought in from the cold, along with fellow outcast Chris Smalling.

Despite the teething troubles, Mourinho has remained upbeat about the Swede’s Old Trafford future.

On the eve of this match, he even said there was good reason for Bailly and Jones “to be worried”, given Lindelof’s huge potential.

“He’s an intelligent kid, very bright, very calm,” said the United boss. “He knows, step-by-step, he’s going to be there. There is reason for Eric and Phil to be worried, because he’s a very good player.”

Lindelof vindicated his manager’s praise with a composed and diligent display, anticipating danger on the few occasions Basel threatened.

Indeed, Smalling is in his eighth season with United, but it was Lindelof who assumed the role of senior defender, barking instructions at him throughout the game.

Mourinho has already pointed out how Ricardo Carvalho struggled when he first joined Chelsea, developing into an accomplished defender once he learned to adapt.

Lindelof can follow a similar path, with last night a small but significant step forward.