Carrick Must Start Leny Yoro for Man Utd vs Tottenham After France Debut

· GiveMeSport

Man Utd need to get back to winning ways, and bringing in this star to their lineup is a good way to make that happen.

Manchester United have not had a good start to their season so far, and they are preparing to take on Tottenham Hotspur in their return to Premier League action this weekend.

The Red Devils have won just one of their first five games, against newly-promoted Ipswich Town, while they were held to a 1-1 draw with Fulham in their final outing before the international break. Spurs, meanwhile, have had an even worse start, and sit bottom of the table having failed to pick up a win and scoring just twice in their opening five games.

United had been hopeful that they had turned a corner under new manager Michael Carrick, who earned the role permanently after an impressive stint as an interim boss last season, where he guided them to third place in the Premier League, qualifying for the Champions League .

Carrick has tried to bring some stability to the squad, naming a very similar starting lineup in the majority of games. But the team hasn't been performing, and it's clear that some changes are needed if the form is to turn around any time soon.

A key position that needs to see some changes is the defence. United have kept just one clean sheet in all competitions so far, against Azerbaijani side Sabah, while they have conceded two or more goals in four of their seven games.

Luke Shaw is the first-choice left-back by default at this stage, with no other senior options natural in that position, while Diogo Dalot is the first-choice right-back, despite competition from Noussair Mazraoui. In the middle, Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez have been the starting central defenders.

But those players haven't been performing, and Carrick now knows that he has a top option available to him, who is ready to step in and make an immediate impact to help turn the team's form on its head.

Young defender Leny Yoro earned a call-up to the France squad for the international break after Ibrahima Konate was forced to withdraw with an injury, as new manager Zinedine Zidane looked to put his stamp on the team since taking over from Didier Deschamps.

Yoro had to wait for his chance, being an unused substitute in the first three games, but the 20-year-old started in the final game against Belgium in Paris, as the team earned a 4-1 win. More than that, though, the centre-back turned in a monstrous performance , earning the praise of his manager.

> "Leny (Yoro) played and had a tremendous game."

With Matthijs De Ligt still recovering from his back injury suffered almost one year ago, and Ayden Heaven down the pecking order, Carrick should have a relatively straightforward choice of his centre-backs for the upcoming clash with Spurs.

Lisandro Martinez's abilities on the ball and his leadership are excellent, plus the fact he is left-footed means there is balance in the squad. He's also relatively quick and good in the air, despite his size, and he reads the game very well.

Maguire is a physical specimen who is dominant in the air, but his lack of mobility is a regular issue that gets him caught out against opponents, and Spurs have got plenty of speed and trickery in their forward line.

Yoro deserves his chance to stake a regular spot in the team in his preferred centre-back position in a back four, having only played 22 minutes of Premier League football so far this term.

His pace and ability on the ball, plus his size, means that Maguire's absence in the side wouldn't be missed, but it would also make it clear that he is the future of the Man Utd defence, as expected when he was signed in 2024 in a £52m deal.

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