Carrick could bench Mbeumo by unleashing Man Utd's new Louis Saha

It was just over a year ago that Manchester United last visited St James’ Park, put to the sword by their rampant hosts as Ruben Amorim’s much-changed team wilted on Tyneside.

Having effectively written off their Premier League ambitions, amid the ongoing Europa League run, the Red Devils were hit for four by Newcastle United, with Altay Bayindir enduring a particularly miserable afternoon in the sticks.

11 months later, there are now no distractions for Michael Carrick‘s men, with the Old Trafford side very much looking to maintain this lengthy unbeaten run, last tasting defeat in the top-flight in December away at Villa Park.

Newcastle are among those to have been vanquished since then, as Amorim oversaw his final win in charge on Boxing Day, with the Carrick train showing no signs of derailing heading into a pivotal stage of the season.

That being said, a midweek game will provide a real test for this United group, while recent weeks have showcased that they aren’t exactly firing on all cylinders.

Why Bryan Mbeumo needs to be replaced vs Newcastle

While Amorim had made a catalogue of changes, United’s last trip to St James’ saw them line up with a front three of Alejandro Garnacho, Joshua Zirkzee and Bruno Fernandes, a far different proposition to what Carrick can deploy this time around.

Newcastle vs Man Utd – Starting XI
13 April 2025 – 4-1
Position	Player
GK	Bayindir
RCB	Mazraoui
CB	Lindelof
LCB	Yoro
RWB	Dalot
CM	Ugarte
CM	Eriksen
LWB	Amass
RAM	Fernandes
LAM	Garnacho
ST	Zirkzee

Indeed, INEOS’ trio of attacking, summer arrivals are beginning to click into gear, with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko notably combining for the winner away at Everton.

Against Crystal Palace too, Cunha won the spot-kick which levelled things up, before Sesko’s bullet header secured the points on what was his first start under Carrick.

This attacking trident is slowly coming together, although after the relentless displays like in the derby, United have looked far less impressive across the last three outings, enduring particularly muted first-half displays against West Ham United, the Toffees and Palace.

The aforementioned Mbeumo has recorded two assists in that time, albeit his impact has waned somewhat, having drifted in and out of games, be it off the left, through the middle, or on the right flank.

Against the Eagles last time out, the 26-year-old – who remains United’s top scorer this season with ten – was particularly ineffective, losing the ball ten times from 41 touches, while failing to register a single shot.

With Sesko now expected to start again, Carrick does have a decision to make over who should make up the attacking unit, with Mbeumo’s place potentially now under threat.

Carrick could replace Mbeumo with United’s new Louis Saha

The trips to West Ham and Everton weren’t exactly memorable, although United’s worst opening 45 arguably came on Sunday, falling behind early on to Oliver Glasner’s side, while failing to create a single big chance before the break.

£36.5m flop may never start another game for Man Utd after Crystal Palace

Benjamin Sesko’s form is bad news for one member of the Manchester United squad.

The narrow nature of Cunha’s game off the left didn’t help matters, nor did Mbeumo’s muted performance off the right, with the Red Devils once again left relying on Bruno Fernandes to pull the strings centrally.

On paper, that front four, including Sesko, appears the best configuration, not least considering that they are the four top scorers this season across all competitions.

That being said, United do typically look like a better side when Amad is involved, with the Ivorian’s absence having been felt in that first half at the weekend.

Lauded as looking “unplayable” under Amorim by writer Dev Bajwa, the 23-year-old hasn’t exactly delivered an end product this season, scoring only once and providing only two assists in the top-flight.

However, that doesn’t tell the full story of his involvement, with the diminutive winger such an asset with his ability to beat a man and weave his way into the box, notably coming off the bench last time out and completing 100% of his dribbles and 100% of his passing.

His goal involvements may be down on last term, when he racked up 21 under Amorim, but his pace and workmanlike quality typically lift this side, in a similar manner to Louis Saha of the recent past.

Saha – who did actually endure a forgettable spell at Newcastle in 1999 – was never the star man in a United side blessed with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney, although when he was fit and available, he arguably made Sir Alex Ferguson’s side a better team.

That trio – or just Ronaldo and Rooney in 2006/07 – took the glory, with Saha scoring only 42 goals for the club in total, yet the ex-Fulham man was such a livewire, such a handful in his mobile centre-forward role.

Indeed, according to Gary Neville, while Saha was not a prolific goalscorer like Ruud van Nistelrooy, the team “probably became better” when the Frenchman replaced the free-scoring Dutchman, with Saha boasting the ability to do the “ugly parts of the game”.

That very much rings true with regard to Amad, and while Sunday’s outing may have been United’s perceived best forward line, or at least its more high-profile forward line, the impact of the former Atalanta wonderkid can’t be ignored.