What Ruben Amrorim should do now, Danny Welbeck and an unlikely England call, and why Michal Oliver was right“Pick the kids!” is a frequent cry when a team are playing poorly, and generally speaking it’s an incorrect one: the last thing a young player needs is to be hurled into a mess of the sort Manchester United are in. But sometimes it works – Mikel Arteta, for example, struggling at Arsenal, eventually promoted Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe because he had no other choice, and hasn’t looked back since. Now Ruben Amorim must make a similar call. A lack of alternatives forced him to persevere with Rasmus Højlund, but over the past week Chido Obi-Martin has earned a chance, contributing at Everton before asserting properly against Fulham, on both occasions more dangerous than Højlund, in less time. And, given United’s league season is over – and, given also, their lack of pace in defence – it might be worth seeing what Ayden Heaven can do, seeking to inject momentum and good feel...
- Danny Welbeck, 34, made a significant impact off the bench for Brighton in their FA Cup fifth-round win against Newcastle, sparking discussions about his potential inclusion in the England squad.
- The Mitre FA Cup match ball has been criticized for its quality, with Nico O’Reilly of Manchester City scoring a goal using the ball in their match against Plymouth.
- Burnley’s 23-game unbeaten run was ended by a heavy defeat at Preston, with the club now focused on securing promotion from the Championship.
- Manchester United remain on course to compete for multiple titles, with their Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League campaigns all still alive.
