IT was the last thing Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim needed.
After taking goalkeeper Andre Onana out of the firing line for Sunday’s trip to Newcastle, the Portuguese watched forlorn as replacement Altay Bayindir conceded four goals in a chastening defeat at St James’ Park.
To makes matters worse, the Turkey international was to blame for Newcastle’s fourth after a poor pass.
“We did a lot of mistakes that made it harder to win a game – that’s all,” said Amorim. “It’s a little bit of everything, it’s hard to point to one thing.”
With a crucial Europa League quarter-final second leg to follow against Lyon on Thursday, United are keen to put defeat in the north-east quickly behind them.
But Amorim now faces a potentially season-defining decision of whether to recall Onana or stick with Bayindir.
Whether Onana was rested or simply dropped for the visit to Newcastle, the fact he wasn’t even named on the bench was a brave decision from the United boss.
Speaking before kick-off, former Manchester United captain Roy Keane said Amorim’s patience with the Cameroon international had worn out.
“I think he (Onana) has done OK in the Premier League because United defensively actually haven’t been too bad,” Keane told Sky Sports.
“The keeper has made some big mistakes and he’s been punished for it, so it’s a big call for the manager.”
Onana came under fire again following two costly errors in the 2-2 first-leg draw in Lyon last Thursday.
Since the start of last season, the 29-year-old has made eight errors leading to goals in all competitions, the most of any keeper playing for a Premier League club.
“The situation has been coming,” former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson told 5 Live.
“A lot of Manchester United fans have been getting frustrated with him and there is a time where you do need to take the goalkeeper out of the firing line because the pressure does become too much.
“When you’re in front of the opposition fans, you’re reminded of your poor form every time you touch the ball and sometimes you do need a rest.
“It’s good man-management to put your arm round him and say, ‘look you’re still my number one goalkeeper, but at the moment you’re not playing to the levels I want you to play at – I’m going to take you out, whether it’s one, two or three games’.”