Ruben Amorim is dealing with an injury crisis ahead of Newcastle’s visit to Old Trafford but he has dropped an exciting selection hint.
Injuries to the likes of Bruno Fernandes and key players like Amad and Bryan Mbeumo being unavailable meant Man Utd’s XI vs Newcastle was bound to have an unfamiliar look.
Ruben Amorim has constantly stressed in the buildup to the game that he fully believes in his team, and whoever he selects is capable of winning.
Apart from Bruno Fernandes, who will be the biggest miss?
Injuries and absences are piling up for the Newcastle game!
In that vein, he has dropped an exciting hint about his potential Man Utd line-up for a game that is increasingly looking like a must-win.
Ruben Amorim’s hint about Man Utd line-up vs Newcastle
This season, Amorim seems to have mastered the art of keeping the fans and the opposition guessing about who he eventually selects.
Be it the status of AFCON players before the Bournemouth game, or his refusal to elaborate on a timeframe for Fernandes’ return, he’s kept it under wraps.
It’s why it didn’t escape attention when he said in a recent interview with the club media that he is excited for the “kids who are going to be in the first XI or on the bench”.
He said: “I believe in my team. I believe in the players that we have. I believe in the kids who are going to help us in the starting XI or on the bench.
“I’m confident, and they are confident that we can win the game.”
It’s the first time since last season’s mad dash to the Europa League final that Amorim has hinted at more involvement for academy players.
After giving debuts to Jack Fletcher and Shea Lacey against Aston Villa, expect them to continue getting minutes, while his statement hints at more debuts in the pipeline.
Man Utd youngsters who can debut vs Aston Villa
Amorim will undoubtedly feel much more comfortable debuting youngsters at Old Trafford than away from home.
HAS Ruben Amorim proved concerns over his academy usage wrong after debuting Jack Fletcher and Shea Lacey?🤔
These were his fourth and fifth academy debutants in 13 months…
Besides Fletcher and Lacey, who will likely play their first senior minutes at Old Trafford, a couple of other players are contenders as well.
For starters, Bendito Mantato was on the bench with Fletcher and Lacey vs Aston Villa, but he didn’t come on, leading to Bruno Fernandes consoling him at FT.
Expect him to get his debut in case Amorim has to reshuffle his wing-backs, because it is a highly demanding position.
Then there’s the gaping hole in midfield, where Manuel Ugarte is the only natural midfielder left in the senior team, but he’s struggling immensely.
Expect someone like Sekou Kone to be named on the bench, and if the game is going well, a senior debut for him as well.
It would be a surprise if anyone else debuts because Amorim will be wary of giving youngsters too much too soon, but more names on the bench won’t be surprising.
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