After waiting a month, Senne Lammens made his Manchester United debut in front of a packed Old Trafford.
Manchester United addressed the goalkeeper situation at the end of the transfer window, signing Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp.
United chose to protect Lammens rather than throw him straight into games against City and Chelsea, but after his composed debut, there is an argument they waited too long.
Lammens was excellent on his debut against Sunderland, keeping a clean sheet in a 2-0 victory, with Manchester United fans cheering his performance.
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Poll: After seven league games, how do you feel about Ruben Amorim?Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty ImagesReaction in Belgium to Senne Lammens performance
Belgium under-21 international Senne Lammens is regarded as a future number one for his country, and there is big interest in how he fares for Manchester United.
Lammens’ debut could not have gone better, and there was lots of comment in his homeland about his display at Old Trafford.
HLN reported: “Above all: a performance that exudes confidence. Something the Red Devils have been lacking in goal for a while. Both Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir, his two predecessors, regularly found themselves trembling between the posts.”
Sporza praised his distribution, writing: “He was barely challenged in the first half and took no risks in possession. It was striking how he constantly connected with his backline and made adjustments.”
VoetbalKrant wrote simply: “Senne Lammens had a dream debut for Manchester United,” praising his ‘calm’ demeanour throughout the game.
Lammens will face a tougher test up next
Senne Lammens faces a far more difficult test in his second game, when Manchester United travel to Anfield in the next fixture after the international break.
Lammens will be much busier against Liverpool than he was against Sunderland, but he has earned the right to take on the challenge.
There is absolutely no case to bring Altay Bayindir back into the line-up, and the Turkish goalkeeper could even have played his final Premier League game for the club.
The gloves are Lammens’ now, and if he plays like he did against Sunderland, then United have struck gold, finding a worthy David de Gea replacement.