Manchester United considering key change vs Fulham

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is seriously considering recalling goalkeeper Andre Onana for the upcoming match against Fulham. Onana has recovered from a hamstring injury that kept him out during pre-season and participated in three team training sessions prior to the Premier League opener against Arsenal.

Amorim deemed Onana insufficiently prepared to start against Arsenal, the Premier League runners-up for the past three seasons, and opted to retain Altay Bayindir as the starter. Onana was excluded from the squad entirely for that match.

Bayindir faced widespread criticism for his weak goalkeeping, which led to Riccardo Calafiori's 13th-minute winning goal against Arsenal. This has influenced Amorim to lean towards starting Onana in the upcoming fixture at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

Sources indicate that Onana and Bayindir maintain an excellent relationship, but a demotion for Bayindir could adversely affect his confidence. Onana, provided he suffers no setbacks, will have completed a minimum of four team training sessions ahead of the Fulham match.

Bayindir, who joined United from Fenerbahce for £4.3 million in September 2023, has conceded 21 goals in 12 appearances for the club. His error against Arsenal recalled a similar mistake in the League Cup quarter-final against Tottenham last December, which resulted in Son Heung-min's winner.

Manchester United's goalkeeping situation is further complicated by the club's efforts to sign a reinforcement. The team explored a loan move for Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa during the summer, but a new goalkeeper was not considered a priority, as revealed in May.

Amorim defended his decision to start Bayindir over 39-year-old Tom Heaton against Arsenal, emphasizing Bayindir's previous strong performances, including a penalty save in the FA Cup third round against Arsenal. He expressed frustration at suggestions to bench Bayindir, recalling his exceptional contributions in prior matches.