“Drop him tonight. He is not the same young lad that we used to know. His performance has declined seriously and he needs to reevaluate and check himself. Replace him with the ‘monster’ in your squad and tonight will definitely go in your favor” – This is according to Pundit Tim Sherwood as he convinces Erik Ten Hag that he must axe 5/10 Manchester United star who lost the ball 14 times vs Saints

Manchester United’s season hasn’t started well, but after consecutive defeats, Erik ten Hag’s team secured their second Premier League win of the year with a victory over Southampton on Saturday.

The Red Devils endured early pressure from the Saints before scoring three goals to claim all three points, hoping to spark a turnaround in their form.

While Manchester United secured the win, the performance was far from perfect. With a League Cup match against Barnsley tonight, it would make sense for Erik ten Hag to consider making some changes, possibly resting a starter who struggled over the weekend.

That starter is young talent Kobbie Mainoo. To be clear, this isn’t a call for him to sit out multiple games, but after looking slightly off the pace on Saturday, missing tonight’s match might benefit him.

We’re not the only ones who noticed the young Englishman’s off-game for Manchester United. ESPN’s Adam Brown rated him 5/10, noting it was a “difficult match” for the teenager, where he “struggled to move the ball forward” and lost possession multiple times.

It may seem harsh, but the Stockport-born talent’s match statistics support this assessment. In his 96 minutes on the field, he failed 50% of his dribbles, lost possession 14 times, committed two fouls, and misplaced his only cross.

Overall, the young “baller,” as U23 scout Antonio Mango called him, didn’t have his best game for United, which is a key reason why he should be rested for tonight’s match.

Another reason is that Mainoo shouldn’t be overplayed at his age, and resting him would give Ten Hag the opportunity to give another midfield talent valuable minutes against a weaker opponent.

**Why Manuel Ugarte should start**
When tonight’s lineups are announced, Manuel Ugarte should be in the midfield instead of Mainoo, and there are two straightforward reasons for this.

The first reason, as mentioned earlier, is the need to carefully manage the youngster’s playing time. While he has immense talent, overworking him could be detrimental and may affect his development in the long run.

The second and main reason Ten Ha

While Ugarte appears physically ready to start for United, he may not yet have the match sharpness or a complete understanding of the manager’s tactical expectations. The best way to address that is by getting him involved in competitive games as soon as possible.

If this were a league match, it might be risky to throw the Uruguayan “monster,” as Statman Dave calls him, into action. However, since Barnsley are currently competing in League One, even a slightly rusty or uneven performance from the 24-capped international should suffice.

g should choose the summer signing tonight is that, after playing 79 minutes against Paraguay and 90 minutes against Venezuela during the international break, Ugarte has shown he’s fit and ready to play.

According to FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League, and Europa League, the 23-year-old ranks in the top 1% of midfielders for tackles and interceptions, the top 2% for tackles won and dribblers tackled, the top 4% for ball recoveries, the top 5% for pass completion, and the top 9% for carries, all per 90 minutes.

Ultimately, after a slightly lackluster performance, Mainoo could benefit from some rest, while Ugarte needs more game time to fully grasp his role at United. Tonight’s match against Barnsley offers Ten Hag the ideal chance to achieve both.