In hindsight, perhaps it wasn’t the worst thing that Manchester United’s £52 million signing missed the drawn-out final months of the Erik ten Hag era.
When even Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez are struggling to keep opposition forwards at arms’ length, you know there’s something wrong.
And while Manchester United may not have been conceding 20-plus shots a game like during that bizarre spell in the spring, Erik ten Hag’s self-defeating tactics served only to undermine and expose the impressive defensive talent at the Red Devils’ disposal.
So, maybe, Leny Yoro was better off watching on from the sidelines after all.
Arriving at Old Trafford amid huge expectations – Man United beat Real Madrid to Yoro’s signature, after all – all eyes would have been firmly fixed upon the former Lille wonderkid from the get-go.
And the prospect of chucking Yoro into a Ten Hag-led backline feels almost like throwing someone who has only just started swimming lessons straight into the middle of the north sea without even a pair of armbands to keep him company.
Wes Brown excited as Leny Yoro nears Manchester United debut
When the Frenchman returns – Yoro is in contention for Ipswich Town on Sunday – he will make his long-awaited Manchester United debut under Ruben Amorim, rather than Erik ten Hag.
Presuming Amorim manages to construct a more organised defensive set-up, and his success at Sporting suggests he will do just that, Yoro could slot straight in and immediately set about showing the United supporters what all the fuss is about.
And Wes Brown, the former Man United stalwart, feels that Yoro’s return after nearly four months out is another reason to be excited ahead as the Ruben Amorim regime gets underway.
“Leny Yoro could be a difference maker,” Brown tells Give Me Sport. “I think he will be well-suited to playing in Ruben Amorim’s system.
“He is obviously still very young, but he’s already highly-rated in the game. For Manchester United to sign him ahead of Real Madrid, that says it all.
“It’s a shame he’s been out injured. But now Ruben Amorim can work with him from the very start. There’s arguably an advantage to that. Manchester United have had to change their defence constantly in recent months and haven’t kept enough clean sheets.
“That’s probably the first thing Amorim will say to his defenders.”
Luke Shaw nearing return as Brown tips a big role for Man United ace
As ever, this is a Manchester United side full of contradictions. The Red Devils have somehow managed to balance looking defensively calamitous, yet while keeping the most clean sheets in the Premier League.
Andre Onana should benefit from Amorim’s arrival too, according to United’s former goalkeeping coach Silvino Louro.
Man United also have Luke Shaw stepping up his return from a long-running injury. Ruben Amorim sees a big role for Shaw once he is back to full fitness, with the England international tailor-made for either the left-sided wing-back berth and also the left-sided centre-back role in a back three.
“I also think Luke Shaw returning to full training is a big boost,” adds Brown, who famously assisted Cristiano Ronaldo’s thumping header in that 2008 Champions League final victory over Chelsea.
“Manchester United are going to need [Shaw] to stay fit. He doesn’t just bring quality but experience and leadership. Obviously, Amorim and the club’s medical staff will need to assess both Luke and Leny in terms of both fitness and match readiness.
“I am sure both will be itching to play.”
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