Photo by Michael Regan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Photo by Michael Regan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
It was a unanimous success for Manchester United on Thursday night, thrashing Sabah and making it comfortable enough to give the youth some minutes.
Harry Amass and Shea Lacey were the two beneficiaries, each getting 20 minutes to experience Champions League football at Old Trafford.
Manchester United already led 4-0 over Sabah, but the pair came on to see out the win and a clean sheet; they did just that.
Amass, in particular, had a busy cameo appearance, yet also quite unproblematic, but his display answered the most important question Michael Carrick would have been asking himself before this performance.
Manchester United v Sabah FC - UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1
Photo by Dave Howarth – CameraSport via Getty Images
Manchester United's Belgian goalkeeper #01 Senne Lammens, Manchester United's Moroccan defender #03 Noussair Mazraoui, Manchester United's Slovenian striker #30 Benjamin Sesko, Manchester United's French defender #15 Leny Yoro, Manchester United's English midfielder #37 Kobbie Mainoo (front row from L to R) Manchester United's Brazilian striker #10 Matheus Cunha, Manchester United's Cameroonian midfielder #19 Bryan Mbeumo, Manchester United's Belgian midfielder #18 Youri Tielemans, Manchester United's Argentinian defender #06 Lisandro Martinez, Manchester United's Danish defender #13 Patrick Dorgu and Manchester United's Portuguese midfielder #08 Bruno Fernandes poses for a team photo before the UEFA Champions League football match between Manchester United and Sabah FK at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on September 10, 2026.
Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images
Harry Amass proves he can be called upon
Amass didn’t start the game despite many believing he should, with Carrick instead pushing Patrick Dorgu successfully back to left-back.
But when called upon, Amass answered the question, can he be trusted and called upon?
The answer was a resounding yes, taking everything in his stride, defending well, getting forward, drawing fouls, and really just doing everything right.
One particular moment saw a dangerous Sabah attack and cross, which Amass intercepted as it flew past the centre-halves, clearing it with relative ease.
The most important thing Amass showed was his composure, stepping in for his Champions League debut, and it could easily have been his 100th game at the level – opposition level aside.
Carrick needs to learn to trust the youth, and experiences like this will help him to do this. Amass can be put in at left-back to see games out, and nothing bad will happen.
There was absolutely zero drop off in defensive or offensive quality from Dorgu to Amass, with the only criticism being that he was maybe a bit hesitant to put in a cross, but this is probably just a case of confidence and wanting to do the right thing.
A successful cameo, which should see Amass also get a chance next week in the EFL Cup against Brighton, maybe even starting if Dorgu is starting the derby with Luke Shaw out.
Getty Images
Amass needs at least 10-15 cameos for Manchester United this season
This was Amass’ first competitive appearance for United in almost 18 months, and they need to be a lot more frequent if his development is going to continue.
Not sent out on loan, Carrick owes Amass a decent amount of gametime and 10-15 opportunities, as he had against Sabah, should be the absolute minimum, maybe with some starts.
Amass could absolutely end up being United’s long-term left-back successor to Shaw, but he needs these first-team opportunities to learn, grow and improve.
Otherwise, he should be out on loan right now in the Championship instead. United needs to develop Amass because there is absolutely a top player in there.
This was a great start, but he needs more.