Manchester United will have a golden opportunity to make it five games unbeaten when they take on Tottenham, but Kobbie Mainoo’s injury has forced Ruben Amorim to be creative.
Nobody will be thinking for a second that Kobbie Mainoo would have started the game against Spurs, but he was regularly coming off the bench recently.
Equally as important was his presence in the matchday squad to make sure Man Utd held up their longstanding record of having an academy graduate in a matchday squad.
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Having Tom Heaton on the bench for two goalkeepers would be a cheap way of maintaining that record, so Ruben Amorim has instead called up an exciting wonderkid for the game against Spurs.
Photo by Poppy Townson – MUFC/Manchester United via Getty ImagesRuben Amorim gives Jack Fletcher a golden opportunity
Jack Fletcher has been an example for many at Carrington due to the way he has developed and added more skills to his game.
He was already an exciting prospect at Old Trafford with his wand of a left foot, also earning praise from captain Bruno Fernandes on the pre-season tour.
Having played this season in an unexpected left-back position, he stepped up to that challenge admirably as well, earning tongue-in-cheek comparisons to Marcelo.
All that effort looks set to be rewarded as Fletcher has been called up to the first-team squad for the game against Spurs.
Mainoo’s injury will see him miss this game, and Fletcher’s inclusion in his place suggests the left-back experiment for him was just a temporary challenge to force him to adapt.
Fletcher’s prospects for Man Utd vs Spurs
Being called up to the first-team squad in the absence of a senior player is a huge endorsement for Fletcher, because it effectively gives him the “first in line” status among academy players.
Having said that, it would be a surprise if Fletcher came on against Spurs, barring a dream scenario where United are ahead and dominating the game.
Even Mainoo struggles to play in the deeper role and needs a defensive-minded midfielder next to him, and Fletcher’s game is even more attacking.
He could come on to play as one of the attacking midfielders, but the competition there is much tougher, with Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo nailed on, and Mason Mount waiting in the wings.
Nonetheless, calling up academy prospects to fill the bench instead of having two goalkeepers is something Man Utd fans have demanded of Amorim for a long time.
Fletcher’s inclusion, even if he stays on the bench, is a good step forward in that direction.