Manchester United head coach has confirmed that Altay Bayindir will start in goal for Sunday’s derby against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, Afrosport reports.
The Portuguese prefers the 27-year-old for the Manchester derby instead of new signing Senne Lammens, who joined United on deadline day from Royal Antwerp in an £18.2 million deal.
The Turkey international has started all three of United’s Premier League matches this campaign, failing to keep any clean sheets. Fans have also been critical of his performances, following flashes of inconsistency this season.
United sent Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana on loan to Trabzonspor on Thursday, and are left with three goalkeepers, including veteran Tom Heaton.
Speaking in his pre-match conference on Friday, Amorim said: “It is a different league, a different country, different training, different ball. So we will try to maintain that and they will fight for the position but for me in this game is clear, Altay will start.
“I know that we are in a moment where the goalkeeper needs to be really strong and have a lot of experience. We are also in the moment where we have to look at the present but also with a focus on the future.
“Lammens’s a guy with a great potential that is one more option (for us) to play, and he will be ready.”
United were also reportedly trying to sign Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez on deadline day but settled for Lammens instead. Amorim, 40, provided an explanation for choosing the 23-year-old Belgian over the experienced World Cup winner.
“We have an option that can give us different things in the moment but also has a great potential to be our goalkeeper for a lot of years so that was our choice in the end,” he said.
The United boss also confirmed the absence of three key players for the Manchester derby. The former Sporting manager ruled Matheus Cunha, Mason Mount and Diogo Dalot out of the match.
“I don’t want to say to how long they will be out for,” he added. “If you talk to Cunha he will say he is able to play this game. So I don’t know. We will manage day-by-day. They are pushing really hard and that is a good thing.”
