Amorim must finally axe Dorgu for Man Utd's 18-year-old "steam train"

Manchester United face Sunderland at Old Trafford this afternoon, looking to finally kickstart their Premier League campaign after a dismal start to life in 2025/26.

The Red Devils have lost 50% of their league games to date, subsequently ramping up the pressure on manager Ruben Amorim after he was backed in the transfer market.

The 40-year-old’s side will be looking to right the wrongs of last weekend, where they fell to a 3-1 defeat against Brentford - in what was an all-round afternoon to forget.

This afternoon’s clash will be the first against the Black Cats since April 2017, with Regis Le Bris’ side in fine form and currently sitting in 5th place after just one defeat in the first six outings.

However, if Amorim is to secure a needed three points against the newly promoted outfit, he will need to drop one player who has fallen way below the levels the supporters expect of him.

Why Dorgu needs to be dropped against Sunderland

Back in January, United forked out £30m for the signature of wing-back Patrick Dorgu, with the youngster becoming the manager’s first major addition of his tenure.

The Dane has started five of the Red Devils’ league outings in 2025/26, with the only game he missed coming against Burnley - a game the side managed to claim victory in.

However, when he has featured as of late, the 20-year-old has struggled to make a positive impact, with his showing against the Bees last weekend highlighting his struggles.

He featured for 85 minutes before being replaced, but his withdrawal was certainly warranted, after committing three fouls and picking up his second booking of the campaign.

The youngster also only managed to complete 33% of his dribbles whilst being unable to find a teammate with any of his crosses - highlighting his inability to create carnage when in transition.

As a result, the manager desperately needs to give him a break and give one other player at the club the opportunity to showcase his talents within the first-team setup.

The United star who could replace Dorgu against Sunderland

The wing-back areas have been a huge concern for United ever since Amorim entered the door, with his 3-4-2-1 system, one that requires high energy in such a department.

Luke Shaw’s injury issues have seen him drop into a more left-sided centre-back role, further reducing the options available to the manager in wide areas.

On the opposite side, Amad Diallo has often filled such a void, with Diogo Dalot also making numerous appearances - but neither seem fully suited to such a position.

However, the left-hand side has been the biggest concern to many, which could see summer addition Diego Leon given his first real opportunity to thrive at Old Trafford.

The hierarchy paid up to £7m for the full-back from Paraguayan Primera División side Club Cerro Porteño, with real hope that the youngster can be one for the future.

At just 18, Leon has bags of time to make his mark for the Red Devils, but the lack of quality in such areas could catapult him into the limelight a lot sooner than anyone expected.

The youngster, who’s been labelled a “steam train” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has already racked up 35 senior appearances despite his tender age, already impressing in the professional game.

Leon ranked in the 70th percentile for crosses completed last campaign, whilst also completing 1.1 dribbles per 90 - showcasing his ability to impress with the ball at his feet.

However, without it, he was just as impressive, winning 1.7 tackles per 90 and making 1.1 interceptions - arguably making him the perfect all-round option for the Red Devils.

Whilst he’s yet to make a single senior appearance for Amorim’s side, this afternoon’s clash could be the perfect chance for the youngster to kickstart his career in English football.

It could be a risk given his tender age, but given the lack of quality in such an area of the pitch, it’s a decision that the manager could look to make to help save his job at Old Trafford.

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