Ayden Heaven showed two exciting qualities on Manchester United debut which Ruben Amorim is desperately missing

Ayden Heaven made his debut for Manchester United’s under-21s side on Monday evening after joining the club from Arsenal in the January transfer window.

Manchester United were not extremely active in the mid-season transfer window despite the struggles of Ruben Amorim’s side.

Patrick Dorgu was the only major signing made, with the wingback joining from Lecce in a deal reported to be around £25 million.

However, the Reds also managed to secure the signing of Ayden Heaven from Arsenal for around £1.5 million.

The 18-year-old defender had been in and around Mikel Arteta’s first-team squad and made his debut for the Gunners earlier in the season.

United managed to convince Heaven to make the season move as Chido Obi did several months earlier, with the promise of being a first-team regular at Old Trafford.

Since his arrival, Heaven has been named on the bench in games against Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur but not yet taken to the pitch for Amorim’s team.

Heaven showed exciting qualities on United U21s debut

On Monday evening, the day after United played Spurs in North London, Heaven was named in the starting lineup for the Under-21s against Fulham.

The teenager was given 45 minutes at Leigh Sports Village, keeping him fresh for potential first-team action in the coming weeks.

It was Heaven’s first game in United colours and he impressed in the first-half with his actions on the ball. United would go onto lose the game 1-0 after he was replaced.

Academy expert AcademyScoop detailed two of the exciting attributes Heaven had on display during his first appearance for the club.

“Ayden Heaven showed bravery and quality on the ball in the first-half, the former Arsenal man expected to make way at half-time in a pre-planned substitution,” he wrote during the interval.

Amorim desperately missing bravery in possession

Lisandro Martínez has been the one United defender known for showing quality and bravery in possession. He has often been the man to find the line-breaking passes needed from the back.

In Amorim’s formation, that quality has become even more important, with the wide centre-backs tasked with a lot of responsibility in possession.

The Argentine’s injury has caused some issues as United have not shown that quality from the back in recent games.

Heaven previously played in midfield in Arsenal’s academy and his comfortability in possession makes that no surprise.

If he is able to showcase those in-possession attributes when he gets a chance in the first-team, he could be able to stake a claim for a position in the side as that is something desperately missing at Old Trafford right now.

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