Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho reportedly fears losing Antonio Valencia to burnout later this season and is prepared to rest the right-back for a number of games.
The 32-year-old has played every minute of the Red Devils' league campaign to date, while also taking over captaincy duties with Michael Carrick unable to break into the side.
According to ESPN, however, United's data analysts have flagged up concerns after Valencia struggled towards the tail end of a gruelling campaign last time out.
Mourinho responded by starting the versatile wideman in just four of the club's last 10 games in all competitions in 2016-17 and, according to the same report, a similar ploy will be taken as this term progresses.
Valencia sat out the Champions League win over Basel on September 12 and did not feature in the squad at all for the recent trip to CSKA Moscow in the same competition.
Written by
Daniel Lewis
Daniel Lewis
