Manchester United end a miserable first half of the 2024/25 season on Monday evening when they take on Newcastle United at Old Trafford.
United may have taken over FA Cup Back in May, but 2024 is undoubtedly a year the club are keen to forget.
A three-game losing streak means the Red Devils are out of the Carabao Cup and languish in the bottom half of the league. Premier League table. In short, things look bleak for Ruben Amorim at the start of his term, and there are few signs of relief.
Free-scoring Newcastle are next for the Red Devils, and this is the Amorim team Amorim could choose to face Newcastle in their final game of the calendar year.
Goalkeeper: Andre Onana – Onana was enjoying a fairly quiet 2024, but a few blunders suddenly sent his long-standing team into overdrive. The future is in doubt. The club does not have any reserve players capable of competing with the current number one.
Centre-back: Lenny Euro – Euros has been eased into his first season after recovering from a broken foot, and there have undoubtedly been some positive signs amid United's woes.
Centre-back: Harry Maguire – Maguire has been preferred over Matthijs de Ligt in United's centre-back three, and that is unlikely to change for the visit of Newcastle. The Englishman will see a lot of the exciting Alexander Isak.
Center back: Lisandro Martinez – The Argentine is a great fit for the role on paper, but Martinez has struggled so far in his second season at Old Trafford. However, there is no one to replace him.
RWB: Nassir Mazraoui – Mazraoui has been a bright spark this season, but there are valid concerns about his suitability as a wing-back.
Midfielder: Casemiro – The veteran midfielder has not played much since Amorim's appointment but the Portuguese coach is likely to turn to him Casemiro Monday with Manuel Ugarte suspended.
CM: Kobe Maino – It has been a quiet period for Maino, who has a unique look to the club's current midfield options. He is a key figure in the engine room, although the youngster has not stood out much compared to when he burst onto the scene.
Left wing: Diogo Dalot – The Red Devils need an overhaul across the board, but this is certainly a position that Amorim will look to upgrade at the first available opportunity. Right-footed Dalot has featured greatly for the new manager.
Morning: Imad Diallo – Some might argue that Amad would be better served as a wing-back, but Amorim has used the Ivorian up front since Marcus Rashford was sent off.
AM: Joshua Zirkzee – with Bruno Fernandes Hanging, Zirkzee can be used as a facilitator between lines. The Dutchman could be a good fit for this role given his skills.
ST: Rasmus Hoglund – Amorim soon realizes that Hoglund is no Victor Jewkeres, but he doesn't have much choice but to stay with the young Dane – especially if he uses Zirkzee a little deeper. The 21-year-old only has two Premier League Goals to his name this season.
