What did it say of Manchester United<\/a>‘s forward line that Michael Carrick<\/a>‘s first port of call last weekend was to unleash Marcus Rashford at half-time, the Englishman having last played for the club almost 20 months ago?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Amad is injured. Benjamin Sesko is still working his way back to full fitness. Patrick Dorgu has done little to suggest he can be the long-term solution on the left flank.<\/p>\n United ended that 2-0 defeat with Rashford on one wing and a 19-year-old Shea Lacey on the other, with the attacking depth already being tested on the opening weekend.<\/p>\n Joshua Zirkzee, an unused substitute in Hull, appears to be heading out the door by all accounts – does that mean there is still hope of a new forward arriving at Old Trafford?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was unsurprisingly the backline that came in for criticism at the weekend, as did the new-look midfield pairing of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, but the forward line has perhaps had a bit of an easy ride.<\/p>\n Only Bryan Mbeumo truly tested Hull ‘keeper Konstantinos Tzolakis, firing two right-footed efforts on goal, albeit with even the Cameroonian looking rather blunt otherwise.<\/p>\n Matheus Cunha was anonymous in a number nine role, while the aforementioned Sesko made no impact off the bench, the Slovenian having not featured at all in pre-season after sustaining a shin injury back in May.<\/p>\n It was that man Rashford who perhaps posed the biggest threat, yet the sight of Luke Shaw overlapping his England colleague showcased just how little the Red Devils have progressed down that left flank in recent years.<\/p>\n Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho have, rightly, fallen by the wayside, yet where once United were inundated with wingers, there does appear to be room for improvement as things stand.<\/p>\n Man Utd Forwards – 25\/26 League Form<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n Player<\/p>\n<\/th>\n Goals<\/p>\n<\/th>\n Assists<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n Sesko<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 11<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Mbeumo<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 11<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Cunha<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 10<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Dorgu<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Zirkzee<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Amad<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Rashford*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 8<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 7<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n *At Barcelona<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n By all accounts, INEOS’ priority after signing Carlos Baleba is to look for a new left-back, but with a return to Champions League action looming, is the attack really strong enough and deep enough to challenge on multiple fronts?<\/p>\n Big moves are still being made as the deadline looms, and with Liverpool closing in on a deal for Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola<\/a>, now’s the time for United to make a splash of their own.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This new INEOS regime appears intent on avoiding a repeat of the mistakes made by the previous United hierarchy, making measured moves in the market rather than splashing the cash in scattergun style.<\/p>\n\n Why INEOS could be making a mistake with Man Utd’s forward line<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n![\"Santos-Mainoo-Sesko-Man-Utd\"](\"https:\/\/static0.footballfancastimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/santos-mainoo-sesko-man-utd.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2\"\/)
\n <\/picture>Action Images via Reuters\/Lee Smith<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n
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