Ruben Amorim has been urged to leave Kobbie Mainoo on the bench in his first game as Manchester United’s new manager. They will face Ipswich, who beat Tottenham last weekend, when Premier League football returns after the international break.
All eyes will be on Portman Road, with Amorim’s first game in charge of United sparking interest from around the world. His team selection will be a major talking point ahead of kick-off and it remains to be seen how he will set his players up.
Louis Saha, who played for United under Sir Alex Ferguson, has urged Amorim to go against the grain by leaving Mainoo out of the side in what would be a controversial move.
The teenage midfielder has excelled since breaking into the first-team picture at Old Trafford, but Saha feels there may be no place for him in the 3-4-3 system typically employed by Amorim.
He told BoyleSports: “If he plays two in midfield, it is a very important position. Kobbie Mainoo is very good on the ball but you also need players who have power in there, you need to find that balance.
“Mainoo has quality but he needs to be given a more creative role. I could see Manuel Ugarte there in some games because he is what teams need at times, a monster in midfield.”
Saha also wants to see Leny Yoro introduced in defence alongside Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez. Yoro has been sidelined for much of the season but recently returned to training and could be in contention to play against Ipswich.
“At the back, I’m a big fan of Leny Yoro,” added Saha. “He is a confident young player who has a lot to offer the team. He is a real star and I’m very confident about that.
“He also needs leaders to help him progress and I think Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez can provide that. Harry Maguire is another option, but I don’t expect to see Jonny Evans or Victor Lindelof.”
Only time will tell how Amorim decides to approach the United job in terms of match tactics. He recently suggested that he may look to implement his 3-4-3 system from the outset with tweaks depending on player availability and skill sets.
“I know how I am going to play in the beginning, because you have to start with a structure that you know,” he told The Athletic.
“Then you will adapt with the players that you have, some injuries, or no injuries, what kind of players have the abilities to defend, attack, I will discover that in the next few weeks.
“We don’t have a lot of time to train, so I have to show something that I know very well. You can take whatever you want from that.”
