• Premier League

Young's diving will haunt United - Shearer

Ashley Young has been warned about his diving by Manchester United manager David Moyes © Getty Images

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Alan Shearer believes Ashley Young's diving could hurt both himself and Manchester United later this season.

United were awarded a penalty against Real Sociedad in the Champions League last week after Young went down under minimal contact from Markel Bergara, who was booked.

Robin van Persie struck the post with the resulting spot kick as the match ended 0-0, leaving United with little to show for Young's enterprise - and, in Shearer's eyes, the club could end up paying for his dive in the coming months.

"In the long run, it will have done neither him nor Manchester United any favours at all," Shearer wrote in his column for the Sun.

"Mark my words, there could come a moment later in this season in a key game for United when one of their players is properly fouled."

"By the letter of the law it will be a penalty. But the referee will look at it and immediately think, 'They have previous for this, I'm not sure, I'm not giving it'.

"It will not have to be Young involved in the incident, either -- the very fact it is a Manchester United player could be enough."

United manager David Moyes issued a public warning to Young about his diving after he was booked for simulation against Crystal Palace earlier this season, claiming: "I don't want my players diving. It's not what I want."

Moyes refused to blame Young in San Sebastian, however, putting the onus on the referee to get the decision right.

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