Senne Lammens has been handed a verdict on Manchester United’s first-choice goalkeeper ahead of the Manchester derby on Sunday afternoon.
Manchester United return to domestic competition this weekend as Rúben Amorim leads his team into a Premier League showdown with Manchester City.
Both sides have endured shaky starts to the campaign. United have taken four points from their first three fixtures, while City sit 13th after collecting just one win in the same period.
The derby provides an opportunity for either club to shift momentum in their favour and inflict further damage on their rivals in what has already been an unpredictable season.
Their last encounter at the Etihad produced late drama, as Bruno Fernandes and Amad struck to complete a remarkable 2-1 comeback victory for United shortly before the turn of the year.
Reports suggest Amorim will start Bayındır
Manchester United’s goalkeeper situation has been a major talking point in recent weeks. Altay Bayındır has featured in all three Premier League matches, while André Onana endured a disastrous display in the Carabao Cup against Grimsby Town before being sent out on loan to Trabzonspor.
On deadline day, United secured the signing of 23-year-old Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp for an initial £18.2 million, and the Belgian has been training with the squad at Carrington this week.
With Onana no longer in contention, the decision for the derby comes down to Bayındır or Lammens. Bayındır has shown uncertainty when dealing with set pieces, yet handing Lammens his debut away to Manchester City would be an incredibly difficult introduction.
Earlier reports suggested Bayındır was in line to start, but with Lammens enjoying a full week of training under Amorim, the new signing has a chance to force his way into contention.
Lammens may already be considered No. 1
While Amorim will be debating who should definitely be starting against Man City, a verdict has already been made on the long-term pecking order for the goalkeepers at Old Trafford.
Transfer journalist Ben Jacobs, who has closely followed the Lammens story, believes Lammens is already the current first-choice at Old Trafford.
“Right now, I would say Senne Lammens is the Manchester United No. 1,” Jacobs said on the United Stand YouTube channel.
United’s next few fixtures include the away tie against Man City, a home fixture against Chelsea, and a trip to London to face Brentford. They will then host Sunderland at Old Trafford before the October international break, with an away fixture against Liverpool looming once domestic football returns.
Likely, Lammens will be in goal at some point across the next few ties, and could potentially be Amorim’s starting shot-stopper before the tense affair set to take place in Liverpool.
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