Leny Yoro has made a great case to earn a start under Michael Carrick after a brilliant West Ham display saving United from defeat.
Michael Carrick saw his side drop points for the first time since he took the wheel at Manchester United as his side drew 1-1 with West Ham away from home.
Benjamin Sesko’s 96th-minute equaliser secured a point for United, who spent the entire second half chasing a goal after West Ham took the lead through Tomas Soucek in the 50th minute.
The game saw huge moments from United’s bench, a common feature under Carrick, as Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee and Sesko all had crucial moments in the game.
Yoro took over from Harry Maguire, who came off in the 68th minute despite playing every minute under Carrick so far.
The young Frenchman certainly grasped at the opportunity to make his mark in the squad with the two crucial challenges preventing Nuno Espirito Santo’s side from running away with all three points.
Yoro receives Ferdinand praise
The 20-year-old defender has seen a rough run of form recently being held out of the squad by Maguire and Lisandro Martinez ever since the dismissal of Ruben Amorim.
Yoro was a solidified starter as the right-sided defender in Amorim’s cemented 3-4-2-1 system, but has seen significantly less minutes under Carrick.
This midweek game forced United to make changes to the backline, something Carrick has rarely done. Regardless, Yoro took the opportunity with both hands and put on a brilliant display making two imperative challenges.
Yoro demonstrated his intelligence through impeccable timing of challenges, game reading, and the athleticism he is known for.
Yoro deservedly caught the eye of the people with his performance, particularly Man United legendary defender Rio Ferdinand who took to social media, praising the young centre-back for his performance.
On his personal X account, he stated: “Also special shout out to Leny Yoro! Two massive blocks to stop West Ham from going 2-0 up!”
Yoro offers different qualities
It is not an understatement to say Yoro saved United’s unbeaten run against West Ham, and he has proven his elite abilities at such a young age.
With Maguire being such a dominant physical force at the back, with a clear reading of the game and sustained qualities of leadership, Yoro provides a different skillset which could have been more beneficial for United.
Yoro is a much faster player, which can prove to be essential making recovery runs against such strong runners like Jarrod Bowen, Adama Traore and Crysencio Summerville.
Read More: Paul Scholes urges Manchester United to make shock signing for ‘world-class’ Premier League star
Similarly, Yoro’s elite one-on-one defending may be a deciding factor in United’s next Premier League game where they will make the trip up to Everton and face tricky wingers like Iliman Ndiaye.
At the same time, with Maguire substituted early in the second half after being seen holding his hamstring before the 45-minute mark, Yoro may have just introduced himself at the perfect time amid a possible injury.
Nonetheless, United’s hunt for Champions League football continues, but Carrick has a big decision to make in the backline.
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 14:00 pm (BST) on the United View YouTube channel.