Manchester United looked like they had left the worst behind them by finishing in the top-eight of the the Europa League and earning themselves free midweeks.
Little did Ruben Amorim know, that free midweek came straight from hell, with Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, and Toby Collyer injured, while Amad’s season is over as well.
With some crunch Premier League fixtures on the horizon, starting with a tricky away day at Tottenham Hotspur, what should have been a point to set things right has effectively turned into a free hit.
Nobody is expecting much from a limping Man Utd but it is in those difficult moments that stars are created, and the Man Utd manager can create one with a brave lineup call.
(EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Jack Moorhouse of Manchester United in action during a first team training session at Carrington Training Ground on January 08...
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Jack Moorhouse is ready for the Man Utd spotlight
Ruben Amorim brought with a reputation from Sporting for giving young players a chance if they applied themselves, regardless of their experience or pedigree.
The list of Amorim’s debutants at Sporting is an illustrious one but due to the chaotic nature of things at Old Trafford, he’s been reticent to repeating that at United.
After the injury crisis, however, he might be left with no choice but to gamble on the future because taking a step back now would be counter-productive. Having the reputation of giving youth a chance is a major factor why he was chosen as Ten Hag’s successor.
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With Ugarte and Mainoo’s injuries, he can go one of two ways- back to the tried-and-tested (and failed) selection of Casemiro or Christian Eriksen, or roll the dice on the future by selecting Jack Moorhouse.
Moorhouse has traveled with the first-team so he’s expected to be a part of the squad but it shouldn’t be a token selection.
Moorhouse has been dubbed the “Next Pogba” for his ball-carrying abilities and his eye for a pass, and he’s an upgrade on the veteran duo in terms of industriousness.
Neither Casemiro nor Eriksen is expected to be a part of the Man Utd squad next season and this PL season is already a write-off. There’s absolutely no reason why Amorim shouldn’t start giving youth a chance, starting with Moorhouse.
Moorhouse not the only youngster in Man Utd squad vs Spurs
While the case for Moorhouse to be in the first XI is the easiest and most logical one, other youngsters have also traveled for the game.
Harry Amass, Sekou Kone, and Chido Obi have joined Moorhouse but they either play in positions where Amorim has options (Amass and Chido Obi), or haven’t shown enough to physically to cope with the demands of PL (Kone).
This is a desperate situation for the club but in those desperate situations, brave calls create stars. It happened when Louis van Gaal gave Marcus Rashford his debut.
It happened with Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, and it can happen again vs Spurs. It would be borderline indefensible if this game goes by without a single debut.