The big decisions Ruben Amorim must make ahead of Europa League quarter-final second leg with Lyon | OneFootball

Man Utd endured a less than ideal preparation for their season-defining Europa League quarter-final second leg with Lyon after being thumped 4-1 by Newcastle on Sunday.

Boss Ruben Amorim unsurprisingly opted to make changes for the heavy defeat but another dismal day for United has only complicated matters ahead of a must-win game for the club.

Here’s the big decisions Amorim has to make for the clash at Old Trafford…

Recall Onana?

After a nightmare outing in Lyon which saw Onana concede twice from his own mistakes in their 2-2 draw, Amorim opted to omit him from the squad completely for the game against Newcastle.

Onana had become embroiled in a vicious war of words with Lyon’s Nemanja Matic ahead of the game but failed to back up his claim that Man Utd are “way better” than the French side.

Altay Bayindir instead came into the team but failed to take his chance, conceding four goals and was directly at fault for the fourth when his poor pass into midfield was intercepted.

With Bayindir perhaps not the answer Amorim is looking for in goal, should he bring Onana back in? The United boss will be hoping that being left out of the squad will have motivated the Cameroonian to bounce back and there is no better time to do so.

Who replaces Zirkzee?

Joshua Zirkzee surely would have been a certainty to start given that he has impressed of late but suffered what looked to be a bad hamstring injury against Newcastle and is set for a spell on the sidelines.

The Dutchman did not start in the first leg but came on and scored for his side, and has been more impactful than fellow forward Rasmus Hojlund.

Hojlund’s struggles this season have been well documented and while he is the obvious answer to play up top, Amorim could perhaps be tempted by playing a false nine, as he has done previously.

Is Mainoo ready to start?

Kobbie Mainoo has returned from injury of late but Amorim has spoken about the need to be cautious with the youngster given the time he has had out.

He has come on as a substitute in the last couple of games and Amorim could be tempted to hand the Englishman a start, given the obvious quality he has.

Manuel Ugarte will likely play in central midfield but who is named alongside him could be any one of a number of options – including Mainoo. He could also start further forward too.

Drop Mazraoui?

Mazraoui endured a difficult afternoon against Newcastle, like many of his team-mates. He has proven to be Amorim’s preferred option on the right of a back three since the Portuguese boss arrived but with more options in defence, following the returns of Luke Shaw and the impressive Ayden Heaven from injury, could Amorim opt to switch things up?