It has been a topsy-turvy campaign so far for Yan Valery.

The Frenchman began the season high up in Ralph Hasenhuttl's thinking, starting the first three games of the Premier League schedule before drastically finding himself out of the side.

Since the 9-0 defeat to Leicester in October, Valery has only made two Premier League appearances - a 'nasty viral infection' has kept him out for many weeks, although Cedric became the former RB Leipzig boss' undisputed first-choice in that time.

However, the Portugal international left the club for Arsenal in January, before his contract expires in the summer.

Now, Cedric's departure gives Valery a great chance to make the right-back spot his own, something that he has previously failed to do even when the former Sporting Lisbon man was on loan with Inter Milan last season.

As things stand, the 20-year-old is the only permanent option at Hasenhuttl's disposal in the right-back department, and the conditions of Kyle Walker-Peters' loan deal are another reason why Valery should be more motivated to nail down that position once and for all.

The on-loan Tottenham man has joined on a deal until the end of the campaign, although there is no option or obligation to buy the 22-year-old upon its expiry - no matter how well he plays, he will be returning to north London in the summer.

In that respect, Valery has a job on his hands, but also an opportunity. With some solid displays in the second half of the season, he could potentially convince the club not to enter the market and sign a new first-choice right-back - the academy graduate hasn't had as good a chance as this since breaking into the first-team to really make the position his own.

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He has shown bright flashes of his promise - a screamer at Old Trafford against Manchester United and a back-post finish against Tottenham last season are undoubtedly his best moments - although Hasenhuttl revealed that he was making mistakes in training and was also struggling back in October, so there is still plenty to work on.

"As you know I really trust in the young players and I gave a lot of young players the chance to play so far and it’s normal that you come maybe then in a situation where you are a little bit struggling and your performance is not the best one."

Now though, because of Cedric's exit and the terms of Walker-Peters' loan deal, he must knuckle down and prove himself to Hasenhuttl at this time more than ever before.

In other news, Tom Barclay has revealed the length of contract Shane Long is set to sign...