Andre Onana was excluded from the squad by Ruben Amorim for Manchester United’s Premier League match against Newcastle United at St James’ Park.

In a surprising turn of events, Manchester United’s goalkeeper Andre Onana has been left out of the squad for their crucial Premier League encounter against Newcastle United this Sunday. Reports suggest that the decision was made to allow Onana some time to “rest and disconnect” following a series of disappointing performances.

The Cameroonian’s recent struggles were highlighted during a match against Lyon, where a free-kick from Thiago Almada slipped past him for the opening goal. The situation worsened when Onana fumbled a shot from Corentin Tolisso, allowing Rayan Cherki to equalise in stoppage time. Such errors have not only affected his standing with fans but have also drawn sharp criticism from former United midfielder Nemanja Matic, who labelled Onana as “statistically one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United history.”

Statistics from Opta reveal that Onana has made eight errors leading to goals this season, the highest among Premier League goalkeepers in all competitions. This alarming trend has prompted former United stars like Paul Scholes to voice their concerns. Scholes remarked, “He needs to be better. He’s had a really poor year, and talking about other teams is probably not a wise thing to do.” He further questioned the club’s budget priorities, suggesting that Onana may require competition for his position to spur improvement.

Despite the mounting pressure, United manager Ruben Amorim has expressed his support for Onana, stating, “It can happen. If you play football, a lot of games, you can make mistakes.” Amorim emphasised the importance of reviewing the goals conceded and working closely with goalkeeping coaches to help Onana improve.

However, it appears that Amorim is ready to give Altay Bayindir his Premier League debut, marking his seventh appearance of the season. Onana is expected to return to the squad for the Europa League quarter-final second leg against Lyon on Thursday, a match that will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and discovery+.