Ruben Amorim confirms Altay Bayindir to start in goal for Manchester derby

Ruben Amorim confirms Altay Bayindir to start in goal for Manchester derby

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has confirmed Altay Bayindir will start in goal against Manchester City on Sunday, continuing his run as the team's first-choice goalkeeper.

Bayindir has featured in all three Premier League games this season, with Amorim expressing confidence in his experience for the high-pressure derby.

New signing Senne Lammens, who joined from Royal Antwerp for 18 million pounds, will serve as competition for Bayindir in the future as last season's number one Andre Onana has joined Turkish club Trabzonspor on loan until the end of the season. Amorim stressed that while Lammens has great potential, he needs time to adapt to the Premier League.

"Altay is going to continue," Amorim said at a news conference on Friday.

"It is a different league, different country, different ball. I know that we are in the moment that the goalkeeper needs to be really strong and have a lot of experience.

"We are also in the moment that we have to look at the present, but also with a focus on the future. Lammens is a guy with great potential, that is one more option to play.

"We believe a lot in our goalkeepers. I believe in Altay. He's ready to play."

Injury concerns also loom large ahead of the derby, with Mason Mount, Matheus Cunha, and Diogo Dalot all sidelined. Amorim said their return will be managed carefully but remains optimistic about the squad's competitiveness.

"They are out for this game," Amorim said.

"I don't know how long it's going to take. We need those guys to be a very, very competitive team. We have very good players that are eager to play. So we will be competitive on Sunday.

"I don't want to say (how long) because if you talk with Cunha, if you catch Cunha outside, he will say that he can play this game. So I don't know. We will manage day by day. But they are pushing really hard."

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