Manchester United gave their fans hope again with a 4-1 win against a sorry Wolves side, but it was notable for potentially being a turning point in one youngster’s career.
Even when Man Utd’s results were improving, Ruben Amorim always faced the tough questions about his stance on young players.
His monologue about Kobbie Mainoo and Shea Lacey after the draw against West Ham didn’t do him any favours, but he might just have found a new personal project.
Who is your Manchester United Man Of The Match vs Wolves?
Who impressed you the most?
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
After United won 4-1 against Wolves, where the scoreline could have been even more commanding, he took the time to rave about a youngster, and the player responded in kind.
Kobbie Mainoo & Ayden Heaven of Manchester United applaud the fans at the end of the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United at Molineux on December 8, 2025
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Ruben Amorim tips Ayden Heaven for ‘a great future’
Ayden Heaven must have got a whiplash in the past two games, as he has come back in from the cold to become the linchpin of United’s defence.
It began with a surprise start against West Ham, which didn’t go according to plan, as he was hooked off at half-time after receiving a booking.
The general consensus was that he had failed Amorim’s trial by fire, and Leny Yoro or Matthijs de Ligt would come back in.
More United News
However, Amorim surprisingly trusted the youngster against Wolves as well, and he repaid that trust with a clean and composed performance.
Was that Ayden Heaven’s best performance in a Manchester United shirt?
Ayden Heaven was completely FLAWLESS in Manchester United's win over Wolves!
Ayden Heaven statistics for Manchester United vs Wolves.
Ayden Heaven statistics for Manchester United vs Wolves.
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Amorim finally broke his trend of grounding youngsters and lavished praise on Heaven, saying he has a great future, and he really enjoyed watching him against Wolves.
He said: “Ayden has a great future. He’s really hard to beat. He has adapted really well to the centre. He did really well man-to-man, and I really enjoyed seeing him with the ball.”
Heaven is feeling Amorim’s trust
It’s becoming a trend that once a player catches Amorim’s fancy, he will go to any lengths to defend him and select him whenever possible.
By the same token, if he doesn’t trust a player, nobody can change his mind, regardless of what the outside perception is.
It looks like Heaven has done something to earn the trust of the Man Utd manager, even if it took injuries to Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt for it to happen.
As it stands, he’s starting over Leny Yoro, which is a huge statement of confidence by Amorim in Heaven’s abilities, which he’s starting to feel himself.
Heaven said after the game: “I’ve had to be really patient. I feel like the manager is trusting me more now. Every time I play, I’m doing better each time. I just want to develop and get better.”
Heaven is not a United academy product, but he is nonetheless a youngster Amorim is beginning to trust. Hopefully, the defender’s good performances open the door for more young players in the future.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox