Ruben Amorim has Man Utd player who faded into complete obscurity, but surprise role could still emerge this season

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Manchester United fans could be in for a real surprise if one forgotten first-team player has a lifeline opportunity emerge at Old Trafford under Ruben Amorim.

Ruben Amorim has finally found some footing for his reign as Manchester United manager after a major turnaround in form in recent weeks for the Red Devils.

United defeated Sunderland at Old Trafford before the October international break, but the Red Devils followed it up with a sensational 2-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield.

The Premier League result for United against Liverpool was the first time that the Red Devils have won back-to-back Premier League matches under Amorim.

United hosted Brighton on Saturday and the Red Devils have now made it three Premier League wins from three after a stunning 4-2 win at Old Trafford.

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Tyrell Malacia is still at Man Utd and the former Netherlands star could still play under Ruben Amorim

Manchester United’s Premier League result over Brighton saw forgotten man Tyrell Malacia in the first-team squad for the match and a rare appearance on the bench.

According to Manchester United’s official website, Tyrell Malacia’s place in the squad came for the first time since the Red Devils’ 2-0 victory over FCSB back in January.

Malacia has not played in the Premier League since United’s encounter with Fulham at Craven Cottage in January and he spent the second half of last season on loan.

The 26-year-old Netherlands international returned to Old Trafford in the summer after Dutch outfit PSV Eindhoven opted not to sign Malacia on a permanent basis.

Malacia had been linked with Elche in the summer and had come close to leaving United, but his move to the Spanish side collapsed on deadline day in September.

The ex-PSV Eindhoven player returned to the club’s first team in September after he had been training with the United Under-21s following his failed summer transfer.

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Why Tyrell Malacia cannot be written off and why Ruben Amorim might need the United left-back

United have been reduced to one Premier League match per week due to no European football and their crushing Carabao Cup exit to Grimsby Town in August.

However, Amorim could end up losing two of his defensive options in the coming months due to the start of the Africa Cup of Nations competition in December.

United defender Noussair Mazraoui is likely to be called up for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament with the Morocco national team.

Amad Diallo, who has played as a wing-back for United this season, is also expected to be called up for international duty with the Ivory Coast for AFCON.

The absence of both Noussair Mazraoui and Amad Diallo by default will be a boost for Malacia to climb the United pecking order in the short term.

United will also see the start of the 2025-26 FA Cup season in January 2026 with the third-round matches, which will add more fixtures to the club’s schedule.

The start of the FA Cup and AFCON running through to January could be the opening that is needed for Malacia to play again for United.