Carrick Must Axe Bruno and Amad vs Como as Lacey and Cunha Push for Man Utd Starts

Manchester United are in desperate need of having their fortunes turned around, and Michael Carrick has some big decisions to make as a result.

The Reds have won just two of their 10 games in all competitions so far this season, and are now without a win in their last six following a 1-1 draw at Elland Road against old rivals Leeds United this past weekend. But they will head to Italy to take on a high-flying Como side, managed by Cesc Fabregas, as they look to get back to winning ways in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

Carrick has tried to stick with his tried and tested formulas so far in this campaign, but he now looks set to be forced into some changes for this game, with the side dealing with an injury crisis.

United were without Lisandro Martinez, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw, Ayden Heaven, Patrick Dorgu, Benjamin Sesko, and Manuel Ugarte in training ahead of the game, and with Leny Yoro also suspended after his red card against Atletico Madrid last week, the team are very light defensively.

But the team have been struggling in front of goal this season too, having managed just 16 goals in their 10 games, while nine of those goals came in just two games, against Ipswich Town and Sabah.

Bruno Fernandes has had a slow start to the campaign, and Carrick has admitted that he is currently carrying a knock, and it’s quite obviously affecting his performances. Amad returned from injury after the international break but has yet to register a goal or assist, but Bryan Mbeumo has been carrying the team with his goals.

That means he should continue in the team, but Carrick must consider dropping Bruno and Amad, despite their importance in the last campaign, to give the team the opportunity to finally turn their form around.

The attacking department of the squad is quite thick with options, and Carrick must be looking at the options he has to do that. On the bench in recent games he has had two gamechangers in Matheus Cunha and Shea Lacey chomping at the bit to make a difference, and this could be the perfect game to unleash them to do just that.

Cunha and Lacey Should Start for Man Utd

via Reuters

Marcus Rashford and Patrick Dorgu are two of the quickest players in the squad, but with both players absent, there was a clear lack of pace in the attack against Leeds.

It hurt the team in transition, and against Como, who play a very open style of football, having some pace and players who can carry the ball over a distance would be a huge boost.

Cunha is always at his best playing as a number ten, and while he hasn’t been able to do that a lot for Man Utd, Fernandes’ fitness issues make this the perfect opportunity to play him in attack and give him the creative freedom. On the right, Lacey was very impressive in his only start so far against Brighton, where he scored, and deserves another opportunity.

His pace and trickery make him a threat going forward, while he is also a hard worker defensively.

Carrick needs to make changes, and these two are glaringly obvious ones that make sense, would provide something different, and could be the difference between finally picking up a win or not.