For a manager who has barely altered his starting 11, Michael Carrick keeps tinkering in one respect. The Manchester United manager has only made three changes in seven games, two of them injury enforced. But he has had five different left wingers: Patrick Dorgu, Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo.
With some success, too, given Dorgu’s goals against Manchester City and Arsenal. Or Mbeumo and Fernandes’ strikes against Tottenham, each when he was the nominal left winger. Or Cunha’s more indirect part in last week’s winner at Everton and Sunday’s equaliser against Crystal Palace. But there is a common denominator: none is a left winger by trade. In the cases of Fernandes and Mbeumo, it might not even be their second favourite position.
