Amorim praised for making ‘bold but welcome call’ as he overlooks one Red who’s ‘outstayed his welcome’

Ruben Amorim has entrusted one emerging Manchester United starlet to aid the side’s quest to reach the Europa League quarter-finals.

Currently, the Red Devils are around half an hour away from punching their ticket to the next stage of the competition, in which they’re likely to face French outfit Olympique Lyonnais.

Supporters were surprised but equally pleased to see one substantial change Amorim made to his starting XI ahead of kick-off, which saw 18-year-old Ayden Heaven deployed from the off to make his first-ever senior start.

It marks just the third appearance of Heaven’s Red Devils tenure since making the switch from Arsenal, where he featured only once during a Carabao Cup tie, in the winter transfer window. 

Amorim hailed for making ‘bold’ Heaven call 

Tonight, the highly-rated defensive prospect replaced senior counterpart Victor Lindelof on the teamsheet. He has just returned from the latest in a never-ending string of injury setbacks and is now seeing out the final months of his Old Trafford career ahead of his contract expiring at the end of June.

“A bold but welcome call to start Heaven,” said Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst on X/Twitter. “Lindelof has outstayed his welcome by a few years and was shaky at the weekend. If/when Heaven makes a mistake, he should not be castigated for it. The best MUFC centre-backs endured difficult or disastrous starts. It’s a rite of passage.”

Heaven made his United debut against Fulham on March 2 before replacing Leny Yoro at the interval of last week’s stalemate with his former club, Arsenal. 

Amorim will be without Lisandro Martinez for the remainder of the term, while he’s currently waiting on the returns of Yoro, Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans.