Manchester United arrive in 2024 looking to move on from a very miserable end to 2023.
Defeat at the City Ground to Nottingham Forest saw the team record a ninth Premier League defeat of the season from just 20 matches.
It was an inadequate team performance filled with poor individual displays, and some questionable decisions from manager Erik ten Hag.
There were some very minor reasons to be positive – if you look hard enough.
Amad return
The fixture saw young winger Amad make his first and only Manchester United appearance of 2023.
Amad impressed on loan at Sunderland last season, scoring 16 goals for the Black Cats, before returning to Manchester United to make a case for the first team in pre-season.
Injury on the tour of USA saw Amad spend several months working his way back, before coming on as a substitute against Nottingham Forest.
Even though his misplaced cross led to United conceding possession for Forest’s counter-attack winner, United fans were impressed by his return, and so was manager Erik ten Hag.
He was also praised on MUTV’s Matchday Review, with former academy player Danny Simpson commenting: “He looked lively, he looked sharp when he come on, and he’s getting back as well and doing the defensive side.
“He’s another option to have, a good option to have, just unlucky to get injured at the start of the season.
“We know he can score goals and create goals.”
Amad has not been included in the Ivory Coast’s squad for the African Cup of Nations, which buys him more time to impress the coaching staff at Carrington this month.
Marcus Rashford scores again
Simpson also talked up Marcus Rashford, 26, who has had a tough start to the season, but did provide an assist and a goal in his last two matches.
He said: “The positive this week is Marcus. Against Aston Villa his performance, his body language his attitude, he gets an assist and today’s goal shows that. He was very calm in front of goal, didn’t thrash it, a great finish and I think if we can get that Marcus in most games then we’ve got a chance.”
Rashford has three goals and four assists this season, a low return based on what he is capable of, but it is encouraging to see him contribute positively in back-to-back games, and gradually start getting his numbers up, and his confidence along with it.
Alejandro Garnacho shows promise
Manchester United can also take heart from Alejandro Garnacho, who has also been very impressive in the past two games.
Garnacho benefited from a Rashford assist against Villa, before repaying the favour with a pass for him to score against Forest.
It is a partnership that has potential, that Manchester United must build on over the second half of the season.
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