Amad's return performance only proves why Michael Carrick must put more 'trust' in another Man Utd player – opinion

Amad Diallo’s return to action for Manchester United has raised another major question mark around Michael Carrick’s approach in the 2026-27 campaign.

The 24-year-old Ivorian winger made his first start and appearance for the Red Devils in the campaign after overcoming the ankle injury that he had suffered.

Amad Diallo’s place on the right wing in Manchester United’s 1-1 draw against Tottenham allowed Michael Carrick to put Bryan Mbeumo up front on Saturday.

United manager Carrick has heavily relied on Bryan Mbeumo to play out on the right during Amad’s absence, while Shea Lacey has also featured sporadically at times.

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Amad Diallo struggled to exert his attacking influence on Saturday evening and was hooked off inside the opening 20 minutes of the second half. Michael Carrick saw enough to bring Joshua Zirkzee on in the 59th minute and Amad had to take his place on the bench.

According to StatMuse, Amad only had two shots in Manchester United’s Premier League encounter with Tottenham and only one was on target. The Ivory Coast international also completed 11 accurate passes from 12 passes and won one tackle before he was replaced by United striker Joshua Zirkzee.

Shea Lacey was on the bench and the 19-year-old Liverpool-born winger was an unused substitute at Old Trafford. The Red Devils youth academy product has been knocking on the door of the United first-team squad this season and seems primed to break out if he has the chance.

Lacey has featured three times for the Red Devils’ senior team in the 2026-27 campaign and the talented Man Utd winger has shown the impact that he can have for Carrick’s men. The Red Devils teenager proved his attacking threat in United’s Carabao Cup encounter with Brighton after he broke the deadlock at Old Trafford.

United suffered a shock comeback defeat to Brighton in the third-round tie last month and the Red Devils subsequently crashed out of the Carabao Cup. However, the 3-2 loss did not take away from the meaningful role that Lacey played for United after he received a rare start.

However, Lacey’s opportunities have been limited this season and United fans have been left frustrated by his lack of first-team playing time. United’s 1-1 draw with 10-man Tottenham should have been the chance for Lacey to start before Amad received a phased return through a second-half cameo.

With Amad now back for the Red Devils, this raises bigger question marks around what Lacey’s role will actually look like under United manager Carrick this season. Lacey should be handed more chances to shine for the Red Devils when it has already been proven what the teenager can do when he is included in the attacking set-up.