Ashley Young is facing a battle to restore both his Manchester United career and reputation after yet another diving storm generated further unpalatable headlines.
Young shuffled out of the Anoeta Stadium on Tuesday night embroiled in more controversy over his dubious theatrics and the question now is how he can recover.
The England international is not far behind Nani as a target for United supporters after two difficult seasons of inconsistency and underachievement, which have seen him fall out of contention with both club and country.
Social networking sites and messageboards were flooded with exasperated fans after the dive against Real Sociedad and Young is now becoming far more renowned for tumbling in the penalty area than his ability with a football.
David Moyes must have suspected the headlines that would follow the next morning and, perhaps wisely, opted to back the winger, despite having a private word with him in September after a similar incident against Crystal Palace.
But Moyes is certain to face further questions at his press conference on Friday and is acutely aware that Young's unwanted reputation as a diver is threatening to bring the 28-year-old's time at Old Trafford to a premature end.
It was by no means his worst offence in a United shirt but TV replays certainly don't him any favours. He had previous at former club Aston Villa too, but the scrutiny now is far more extreme and patience appears to have run out with fans after the only real talking point of the stalemate in San Sebastian.
Roy Keane, the former United captain, accused him of "conning the referee" and that will only serve to make his life more uncomfortable, while his future has become even more uncertain after the stunning emergence of Adnan Januzaj.
The January transfer window could offer him a chance to make a fresh start at another club, especially if he has any serious intentions of featuring at next year's World Cup.
For the next few months, however, Young has much work to do to repair his relationship with United's supporters.
Three years ago he was seen as one of England's most highly-rated wingers but against Arsenal this weekend the eyes of the world will be on him for an altogether different reason.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...-cheating.html
A disgraceful player
The whole pub roared last night when van Persie missed the penalty and the sole Man Utd supporter there sneaked off home in the 88th minute
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