Dalot remains in Golden Boy award race

Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot has been included on the 40-man shortlist for this year's Golden Boy award.

Dalot featured alongside Angel Gomes and Tim Fosu-Mensah in the long initial list of 100 nominees for the prestigious prize, which is given to the best young player in European football.

Our summer signing from FC Porto has now made the latest cut and will find out next month if he has made the final shortlist.

When asked by ManUtd.com recently how pleasing it is to be acclaimed in such a way, the right-back said: “It’s always nice recognition of our work. It’s good to be in that kind of nomination and I’m looking forward to getting more.”

WHY HAS DALOT BEEN NOMINATED?

Diogo was recognised following his breakthrough season at Porto, where the right-back made seven first-team appearances in 2017/18 and helped the Portuguese outfit keep a clean sheet against Liverpool in the Champions League.

The 19-year-old has also impressed in the early stages of his United career, after recovering from a knee injury sustained during his time in Portugal which forced him to miss pre-season with the Reds.

The Portugal Under-21 international caught the eye on his debut in the 3-0 win over Young Boys in the Champions League and in the Carabao Cup tie against Derby County, during which he set up Marouane Fellaini’s header with a fine cross.

WHAT IS THE GOLDEN BOY AWARD?

The prize was created by Italian media outlet Tuttosport back in 2003, and is presented to the Under-21 player who is judged to have enjoyed the most impressive calendar year at a club in a European nation’s top tier.

Rafael van der Vaart won the inaugural award while playing for Ajax and the most recent winner in 2017 was Kylian Mbappe, the Paris Saint-Germain and France superstar. Wayne Rooney (2004), Anderson (2008), Paul Pogba (2013) and Anthony Martial (2015) have all previously won the award.

The winner is decided by 30 journalists from media firms across the continent. That panel will cut 20 players from the shortlist next month, before the 2018 Golden Boy is chosen in December.

Among the other nominees are Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, Manchester City’s Phil Foden and Everton midfielder Tom Davies.