Under-fire goalkeeper set for return in crucial Europa League clash as Amorim backs his mental resilience amid mounting injury concerns for Manchester United.

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has confirmed that goalkeeper Andre Onana will return to the starting lineup for Thursday’s decisive Europa League quarter-final second leg against Lyon at Old Trafford.

The Cameroon international was notably absent from Sunday’s 4-1 Premier League defeat to Newcastle, with Altay Bayindir stepping in for his debut. However, Amorim insists the decision was made to protect Onana both physically and mentally after a turbulent spell on and off the pitch.

“We speak about managing players physically, but we also have to manage them mentally,” Amorim said during Wednesday’s press conference. “We had one weekend where I felt it was better for Andre not to play — and a good thing for Altay to get minutes. He [Onana] will play tomorrow.”

The 29-year-old has faced intense criticism in recent weeks, particularly from former United midfielder Nemanja Matic, now at Lyon, who publicly slammed Onana ahead of the first leg for claiming United were “way better” than the French side. Matic labelled him “one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s history.”

Onana’s performance in the 2-2 first-leg draw did little to quiet detractors, with the former Inter Milan shot-stopper blamed for both Lyon goals.

Despite the controversy, Amorim stood by his £44 million signing, emphasizing that the choice to bench Onana was a calculated move — not a punishment.

“When I made that decision, I talked with Andre. That conversation is important, but in the end, it is my feeling as a coach that guides the decision,” Amorim explained. “Sometimes players say they feel confident, but I sense something different. Ultimately, I have to make the call.”

United defender Harry Maguire echoed the manager’s support, describing Onana as “a big personality and big character” capable of silencing critics.

“In a career, you always have ups and downs,” said Maguire. “It’s about how you respond. Andre has proven in the past he’s an excellent goalkeeper.”

Injury Woes Mount for United

As United eye Europa League glory — their most viable route to next season’s Champions League — the squad continues to be ravaged by injuries.

Dutch striker Joshua Zirzkee has been ruled out for the rest of the season after sustaining a hamstring injury during the Newcastle match. “Joshua is out for the season,” Amorim confirmed. “It’s tough, especially in the moment. Now he has to focus on recovery.”

Defender Ayden Heaven suffered what Amorim described as a “small setback” after returning to action last weekend, while Matthijs de Ligt remains sidelined, absent once again from training.

On a more positive note, long-term absentees Jonny Evans and goalkeeper Tom Heaton have returned to training, offering a potential boost to United’s depth.

Analysis: Only One Logical Choice

In truth, Amorim had little choice when it came to selecting his goalkeeper for the Lyon clash. Bayindir, still regaining fitness and playing behind a disjointed defense, failed to impress against Newcastle. Those close to the Turkish international admit he is not yet ready for such high-stakes fixtures.

The issue for Amorim is unpredictability. With Onana, he doesn’t know if he’ll get a world-class display or another costly error. What the Portuguese coach craves is reliability — a “seven-out-of-ten” type of player, to borrow a phrase from Sir Alex Ferguson.

Whether Onana can deliver that remains to be seen. But with a European semi-final spot on the line, United are placing their trust in the goalkeeper they hoped would anchor a new era.

Kick-off is at 20:00 BST on Thursday.