Matheus Cunha: Man United star reacts to substitute performance against Sunderland | OneFootball

Manchester United ensured they head into the international break in better spirits by sweeping aside Sunderland on Saturday afternoon at Old Trafford.

Ruben Amorim’s men struck twice in the first half before holding on with relative comfort to secure their third win on the bounce in front of home support.

Mason Mount opened the scoring after raising some eyebrows with his presence in the starting line-up in place of summer signing Matheus Cunha, who started on the bench.

Cunha’s electric start to his career in Manchester has stalled somewhat after an injury ruled him out of a handful of games and struggling to make an impact on his return in the defeat to Brentford.

Cunha reacts to weekend events

Mount was excellent throughout on Saturday but was replaced by Cunha five minutes after the hour to give the Brazilian a run out in the later stages.

With the game already won there was no real need for the 26-year-old to do much more than help his teammates over the line and secure the much needed points that leave United in the top half of the table going into the break.

Cunha will no doubt have been disappointed not to start but, as reported by The Express, did have a positive message for the fans which he shared on social media after the game.

“Nothing to say about how beautiful it is to win like this, at home and with the fans by our side,” he posted, alongside a heart on fire emoji.

Cunha’s post will be well received by United supporters, who are desperate for the team to show the fighting spirit required to get some more points on the board in the Premier League after another rocky start to the season.

What next for Cunha

Despite Cunha’s public show of positivity he will be acutely aware of the form Mount has shown this season. The former Chelsea man has certainly staked his claim to start the crunch fixture at Anfield after the international break.

With Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko also shoo-in’s to start in the coming weeks at least, Cunha knows it’s Mount he needs to dislodge to get a run in the starting XI.

However, given Mount’s injury record and inability to complete 90 minutes week-on-week, the former Wolves man will no doubt get opportunities to impress.

It will then be down to Cunha to take his chances but Amorim will be delighted to have such quality options in forward areas this term after struggling so badly in front of goal last season.

Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images

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