Manchester United fans are excited about the start of the Ruben Amorim era, and it could coincide with the start of another.
Ruben Amorim will soon be naming his first Manchester United starting XI, and if approved by the club’s medical staff, he could select a player Erik ten Hag was never able to in a competitive game.
Back in the summer, Manchester United beat Real Madrid to the signing of Lille centre-back Leny Yoro.
The move was seen as a major coup by Ineos, yet the excitement was short-lived, with Yoro suffering a fractured metatarsal in his second friendly, which required surgery and has kept him out since.
Until now. Leny Yoro is back in training and featured in Ruben Amorim’s first session – he is in contention for a place in the new head coach‘s three-man defence this weekend against Ipswich Town.
Kobbie Mainoo path
Leny Yoro suffering an injury in pre-season was an awful blow, yet not a disastrous one in the wider context. He was able at least to avoid the woeful start to the season under Erik ten Hag.
Could it have been better if he was available? Probably, but defence has not been the issue this season, it’s been the midfield and attack which have caused the main issues.
Yoro has a fresh, untainted start under Ruben Amorim, and a three-man defence is the perfect way for him to adjust to English football, it’s perfect.
At the time Yoro was injured, we were able to take some consolation that this same situation befell Kobbie Mainoo last season.
Mainoo was primed for a breakout season, suffered a pre-season injury, and then came back in late November. Once he got going, he never looked back, going on to score the winner in the FA Cup Final.
It was evidence that the cream rises to the top eventually. Leny Yoro’s Manchester United career was simply delayed, not blocked.
Whether Yoro features against Ipswich or not, his competitive debut is not far away, and United fans are right to be excited.
Generational talent
With Leny Yoro on the verge of his return to the Manchester United starting line-up, it is worth a refresh on just how highly-rated the young centre-back is.
Speaking in October, Fabrizio Romano told the Here We Go podcast: “This is considered a generational talent for his position as a centre-back.”
He added: “So when you will see Leny Yoro in a Manchester United shirt, he will be 100 per cent ready and fit to compete. This is the idea of the club.”
Former United star Rio Ferdinand said back in the summer: “I watched this kid a few times now, watched highlights, and I just feel at his age he’s the best in the world, no one near him at that age with the experience he’s got at that age, no one comes close, his ceiling is super high.”
And his former Lille teammate and perhaps future United one, Angel Gomes, told TNT Sport: “Leny, from when he first came (into the team), I knew immediately that he was going to go to the top.”
United sporting director Dan Ashworth made his feelings clear when he signed too, adding: “Leny is one of the most exciting young defenders in world football.
“He possesses every attribute needed to develop into a top-class centre-back. Having had such an excellent start to his career, we are excited to support him in reaching his immense potential here at Manchester United.”
Now we get ready to sit back and watch the show, with Ruben Amorim the new conductor.
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