How can you follow Thursday night?
Well, Manchester United are back in action at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday afternoon, with Ruben Amorim’s men needing to shift their focus following the chaos of their Europa League exploits.
Unsurprisingly, the former Sporting CP boss has openly admitted that the club’s European commitments are now the priority, not least with it already confirmed that United are set for their worst-ever Premier League points tally.
The need to put all their energy into seeing off Athletic Bilbao next month should not mean that the Old Trafford side simply throw in the towel domestically, however, with now the time to build some momentum to help aid their continental fortunes.
Equally, United will also be keen to avoid losing out to the Molineux side for the second time this season, having notably been undone by a Matheus Cunha-inspired performance as the Old Gold secured a 2-0 win on Boxing Day.
That drab display memorably saw captain Bruno Fernandes dismissed after picking up two yellow cards, with Cunha also scoring directly from a corner to pile the misery on his potential future employers.
Will there be further drama this time around, with Amorim looking set to ring the changes?
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Speaking after Thursday’s thrilling 5-4 win over Lyon, the Portuguese head coach admitted that it might be time to play “the kids” in the Premier League, with alterations needed after such a gruelling 120 minutes of action in midweek.
Indeed, the 40-year-old went on to state in his pre-match press conference that the likes of Diogo Dalot could be among those to make way, with the United boss suggesting the defender was among those looking “really tired” against the Ligue 1 side.
Amorim appears keen to avoid the “risk of injury” with his first-team stars, albeit with his options set to be boosted with both Victor Lindelof and Noussair Mazraoui set to be available once again, after the pair were forced to leave at half-time due to ‘personal issues’.
Meanwhile, Amorim did suggest that it is “not the best moment or the best season” to unleash academy talents, albeit while pointing to the rise of Ayden Heaven as an example of where throwing a youngster in at the deep end can bear fruit.
As for those who could follow in the footsteps of the likes of Heaven, Chido Obi and Harry Amass, it was noteworthy that Jack Moorhouse, Godwill Kukonki and Jaydan Kamason were all part of the matchday squad in midweek, with the teenage trio still waiting for a first taste of senior action.
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In the case of Kamason, in particular, the need to take Dalot out of the team could see the young full-back finally make his first-team debut.
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Having claimed the club’s Players’ Player of the Year of the award last season, Dalot’s form has somewhat “fallen off a cliff” this time around – as per one content creator – with the Portuguese full-back having perhaps been hampered by repeatedly being forced to line up on the left flank in the early months of the campaign.
While even his suitability as a wing-back on the right flank can be questioned, the 26-year-old has quietly come good of late, notably teeing up Fernandes for the third goal against Leicester City, while also scoring himself against both Real Sociedad and Lyon at the Theatre of Dreams.
Described as an “elite” talent by Statman Dave, the former Porto starlet is particularly crucial to his compatriot, Amorim, due to his remarkable availability, having started 49 games this season, while missing just one game against Southampton due to suspension.
Diogo Dalot
50
3
5
Alejandro Garnacho
50
10
9
Bruno Fernandes
49
17
18
Noussair Mazraoui
49
0
3
Joshua Zirkzee
48
7
3
Andre Onana
44
0
0
Rasmus Hojlund
44
8
4
Matthijs de Ligt
40
2
0
Whether it is to give Dalot or rest, or merely to see a different option in that role, now is the time for Kamason to be unleashed, with journalist Shaun Connolly suggesting that the 18-year-old is “banging” on the door for a first-team chance.
The promising Englishman notably played every minute of United’s run to the FA Youth Cup semi-final this season, having even netted a crucial, stunning strike in the 3-2 win over Arsenal at the quarter-final stage.
With two goals and six assists to his name in 31 games in 2024/25, as per Transfermarkt, the right-back has showcased his attacking quality for the U18 and U21 sides, with it no surprise that he is now in the mix in Amorim’s ranks.
While Kamason has operated in a back four at youth level, that desire to get forward should ensure he is well suited to operating in a more advanced wing-back berth, with Amorim currently short on options in that role, particularly with Amad Diallo currently sidelined.
There has no doubt been talk of new recruits arriving this summer to help bolster that wing-back department, in particular – with Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong one name to have been mentioned – yet there should also be a willingness to try and solve that issue in-house, by promoting the likes of Kamason.
As such, now is the perfect opportunity for the teenager to show what he can do on the Premier League stage…
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