When most Draft Fantasy Football players consider choosing Manchester United players for the upcoming year they will almost certainly be licking their lips at Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford.

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But they should perhaps be focusing their attentions elsewhere in Jose Mourinho’s vast side, with evergreen Ecuadorian right-back Antonio Valencia potentially one of the best coups of the draft.

Since the arrival of the Portuguese boss his Manchester United career has moved to a whole new level and it is fair to say he played an influential part in both the EFL Cup and Europa League victories.

And after signing a contract extension at Old Trafford last season, keeping him at the club for another year, it is likely that he will be United’s driving force at right-back as they aim to challenge for the title.

Considering that United have added Victor Lindelof to their squad – who could potentially form a formidable partnership with the impregnable Eric Bailly – and that their world-class goalkeeper in David de Gea looks set to stay at the club, there could be plenty of clean sheets for United this year.

Even with a constant chain of injuries at the back last season and makeshift line-ups United still managed 16 clean sheets, and with a stable back-four this year Valencia could earn priceless points.

But the most appealing factor about picking the 31-year-old is his ability to consistently earn points down at the other end of the pitch, using his raw pace and his grit to hit the by-line and churn out assists.

Last season alone he managed three assists – and one goal – by virtue of being a constant outlet along the right-hand flank, and his tally of creating 32 chances was a higher amount than midfielders Jesse Lingard (28), Henrikh Mkhitaryan (28), Anthony Martial (24) as well as forward Marcus Rashford (19).

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Although the likes of Kyle Walker, Victor Moses and Cesar Azpilicueta may come to mind before Valencia, the United man’s unnerving consistency week-in, week-out almost guarantees he will score high this season.