‘Man United confusion after Ruben Amorim excludes ace from Tottenham loss’
Man United figures have been left confused by the absence of one player from the club’s defeat to Tottenham, according to a report from the Daily Mail.
The Red Devils’ saw their poor recent run continue in that defeat to Spurs on Sunday (16 February) with James Maddison scoring the Tottenham winner and only goal of the game.
That has seen the Old Trafford outfit drop to 15th in the Premier League table, and Ruben Amorim is already being scrutinised.
Man United were not helped against Tottenham by a growing injury crisis, despite which the absence of one player has still raised eyebrows.
James Scanlon misses Man United first-team opportunity
Amid that raft of injuries Man United are facing, the bench named by Amorim against Ange Postecoglou’s side included eight teenagers, alongside centre-back Victor Lindelof.
One player from the club’s academy however who did not make the bench for that game was James Scanlon.
According to The Mail, Scanlon has been training with the first-team in the lead-up to that game after impressing for the club’s Under 21s this season.
In the end though, he was left out of the matchday squad to face Spurs, and instead featured for the academy team against Fulham the following day.
It is stated that sources close to both the player and club have been left “confused” by the fact Scanlon has not been given more senior opportunities, as one of the top performers at youth level for Man United this season.
Indeed, there is apparently also a feeling that the 18-year-old is one of the youth team’s most natural options to fit one of the number ten roles that Amorim employs in his 3-4-2-1 formation.
Ruben Amorim can do without fresh selection scrutiny
Football Insider Verdict
There is already plenty for Amorim to consider as his side continue with their struggles for form at this moment in time.
As a result, questions over the inclusion of a youth player in the matchday squad are not something the Man United manager is going to want.
With so much to deal consider as he looks to things around at Old Trafford, this is unlikely to be an issue he would expect to have been facing at a club of this stature.
| Man United last six Premier League games | Result |
| Tottenham (A) | Lost 1-0 |
| Crystal Palace (H) | Lost 2-0 |
| Fulham (A) | Won 1-0 |
| Brighton (H) | Lost 3-1 |
| Southampton (H) | Won 3-1 |
| Liverpool (A) | Drew 2-2 |
The fact that he is though, is perhaps a big indicator of the troubling position Man United find themselves in at the minute.
Selection of youth players for the first-team should not be having to be considered to the extent that it is here, so the medical staff, like so many others at the club may be under pressure, when it comes to getting senior stars back in action.