Ruben Amorim Excludes Onana from Squad for Crucial Newcastle Fixture
Manchester United’s goalkeeper, Andre Onana, has been left out of the squad for Sunday’s Premier League clash against Newcastle United. His exclusion comes after a tough performance in the recent Europa League quarter-final first leg, where he made two critical errors that contributed to a 2-2 draw against Lyon.
Since joining the team in 2023, Andre Onana has played every minute in the Premier League, but he hasn’t made the trip to Tyneside this weekend. Instead, Altay Bayindir is set to step in as the starting goalkeeper; Bayindir has only seen action in six matches this season.
According to Sky Sports News, Manchested United manager Ruben Amorim believes Onana should take some time off to regroup, especially after the challenges he’s faced both on and off the pitch. Apart from his mistakes in the match against Lyon, Onana has also been dealing with personal turmoil after his wife experienced a traumatic robbery outside a restaurant in Manchester earlier this year.
There’s a chance Onana could return for the second leg against Lyon at Old Trafford this Thursday. The goalkeeper had stirred up some controversy ahead of the first leg when former United player Nemanja Matic labeled him as “one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United’s history.” Onana’s remarks, claiming his team was “better” than Lyon, didn’t help quiet the critics, and he made two crucial errors during the match, including allowing a free-kick to slip in and misplaying a rebound that led to a last-minute equalizer.
Despite the criticism, Amorim has come to Andre Onana’s defense, expressing his confidence in the player. However, he has decided to make a change for the game against Newcastle United.
This will give Bayindir a chance to make his Premier League debut for Man United, while Tom Heaton, the third-choice keeper, is expected to sit on the bench.
