Rúben Amorim must make a personnel change against Sunderland, or one Manchester United star could fail to make his first appearance until the January transfer window has opened.
Manchester United face Sunderland this weekend, in what could be a decisive fixture for several different reasons, the biggest being that it could decide Rúben Amorim’s fate as United manager.
Failing to win against the newly promoted Black Cats would pile even more pressure on Amorim, before United make the short trip to Anfield the following weekend. Victory is crucial on Saturday after Amorim wants to keep his job.
Another big talking point from this weekend’s match will be whether Benjamin Šeško can score in back-to-back Premier League matches, after scoring his first United goal against Brentford. However, Amorim may take the opportunity to give Joshua Zirkzee his first league start of the season.
Saturday’s match could also see Tyrell Malacia return to the first-team squad for the first time since being named as part of a five-man “Bomb Squad” in the summer. He came close to a move to Elche, but it broke down in the final hours of the window.
Malacia rejoined the training squad on Tuesday and could replace Noussair Mazroui on the bench, with the Moroccan still out injured, although Amad has also returned to training and will be hungry for that place.
Lammens must start against Sunderland
Senne Lammens signed for United on Deadline Day, after Andre Onana’s loan move to Trabzonspor was confirmed. The young Belgian likely would’ve played in the Carabao Cup, but United’s elimination made this impossible.
Altay Bayindir has been the first choice this season, and he simply hasn’t been good enough. His best performance came against Brentford, but his howler for the third Bees goal can’t be easily forgotten.
With Liverpool on the horizon, Lammens has to start against Sunderland if he has any chance of becoming the starting shotstopper before the FA Cup starts in the new year. If Amorim doesn’t feel he is ready for a newly promoted side, then he shouldn’t be at the football club.
His next opportunity to start a game – not counting a possible friendly in Saudi Arabia – would be in the first round of the FA Cup, after the January transfer window has opened. Lammens may seek a loan move for regular football in the winter window if he hasn’t played by then.
The 23-year-old deserves the opportunity to show why Jason Wilcox signed him ahead of Emiliano Martínez, and starting him could help Amorim win some fans over after the sack calls in recent weeks.
Lammens could push United to victory
While he is yet to play for United, Lammens has already impressed the first-team squad with his performances in training, and they may have more confidence in him than Bayindir.
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Your backline – especially in a defensive three – must be confident in the goalkeeper, and the United defenders haven’t been given a reason to trust Bayindir since his move to Old Trafford.
Starting Lammens against Sunderland could see Matthijs de Ligt return to his previously brilliant form, and Leny Yoro look more like the player in pre-season than the one who has started the season.
Amorim must start to make changes, but he doesn’t seem willing to.
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