Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has been left out of Sunday’s Premier League game at Newcastle.
Onana was at fault for both Lyon goals in his side’s 2-2 draw in the Europa League on Thursday – a day after he had been called “one of the worst goalkeepers” in United’s history by former Red Devils player Nemanja Matic.
Sources confirmed Onana has been omitted from Ruben Amorim’s squad for the game at St James’ Park to allow the Cameroon international to “rest and disconnect”.
It is expected he will be in contention to face Lyon in the return leg of the quarter-final tie at Old Trafford on Thursday and has been assured the change is not regarded as permanent.Turkey’s Altay Bayindir is expected to deputise for Onana at Newcastle in what would be only his sixth appearance of the season and his first Premier League game.
He has not featured since January, having played only in cup games this season.
Since the start of last season Onana has made eight errors leading to goals in all competitions, the most of any keeper playing for a Premier League club.
Amorim defended the 29-year-old after the performance against Lyon, saying he had made more mistakes this season than Onana.
Onana has struggled to live up to his £47m transfer fee since his arrival from Inter Milan in 2023.
The then United manager Erik ten Hag ditched popular first-choice David de Gea, believing Onana was better with the ball at his feet.
However, Onana has made a series of mistakes, with the first goal in Lyon, when he dived to push a routine shot away from goal but inexplicably missed it, a prime example.
Aside from Onana’s on-field issues, he has also had to deal with off-field problems.
His wife Melanie Kamayou was robbed as she left a restaurant in Cheshire last month.
