Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim admitted his team fell short after a disappointing 4–1 loss to Newcastle on Sunday.

The Red Devils endured their 14th Premier League defeat of the season at St James’ Park, struggling to match the energy and precision of the home side.

Sandro Tonali got Newcastle off to a strong start, but Garnacho brought United back into it with an equalizer. That hope didn’t last, though, as Harvey Barnes netted twice and Bruno Guimarães added another to put the game out of reach.

After the match, Amorim didn’t sugarcoat the performance. “We made too many mistakes,” he said. “Newcastle were better, especially with second balls. It’s not just one thing. It’s hard enough facing a strong side like this, but when we help them with our own errors, it gets even worse.”

Despite the setback, Amorim urged his team to shift focus. “We know we’re capable of doing better. What happened today can’t happen again on Thursday.”

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has chosen to leave Andre Onana out of the squad heading to face Newcastle in Sunday’s Premier League clash.

The decision comes just days after Onana’s costly mistake in their 2-2 Europa League draw against Lyon, where he let in a stoppage-time equaliser. Amorim has opted to give his first-choice keeper a breather, allowing him to reset mentally after recent struggles.

Stepping up in his place is Altay Bayindir, who’s now set to make his Premier League debut at St James’ Park. The Turkish shot-stopper will be looking to impress, with the return leg against Lyon at Old Trafford just around the corner. If he performs well, there’s a chance he might hold on to the gloves a little longer.

Though Amorim publicly backed Onana after the Lyon game, his decision to rest him this weekend suggests a need to ease the pressure. With United currently 13th and just seven games left, every decision counts as they push for a stronger finish.

Frank Onyeka remains hopeful about the Super Eagles’ chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite their struggles in the qualifiers so far.

With just one win, four draws, and one loss in their six matches, the Eagles are currently sitting in fourth place in Group C, trailing leaders South Africa by six points.

However, Onyeka believes there’s still a chance for the team to turn things around. “I know the situation is tough, but we still have a shot. If we win our next four games, we can make it,” the Augsburg midfielder said in an interview with Oma Sports.

Nigeria’s World Cup qualification campaign resumes in September, with crucial matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe on the horizon.