Dorgu’s Decisive Goal Secures Victory for United Against Newcastle

Patrick Dorgu netted the decisive goal in United’s hard-fought victory against Eddie Howe’s Newcastle team, striking past goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale midway through the first half. Despite appearing more dominant, the Magpies failed to capitalize on their opportunities after falling behind to Dorgu’s impressive shot.

The withdrawal of Mason Mount at halftime raised concerns for United as they grapple with an ongoing injury crisis. United is already missing pivotal players, including Bruno Fernandes, who sustained an injury during the recent 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa.

In addition to Fernandes, Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt, and Kobbie Mainoo were unavailable due to injuries, though they are nearing a return. Meanwhile, Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui are currently on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Mount’s injury adds to Ruben Amorim’s woes. After the match, he confirmed that Mount “felt something” that necessitated his substitution. Speaking to Sky Sports, Amorim stated, “He felt something at halftime. He wanted to play in the second half, which is commendable, but we cannot afford to lose any more players.”

Jack Fletcher stepped in for Mount in the second half, and Amorim praised the 18-year-old, remarking, “Jack [Fletcher] did a very good job. It’s a significant moment for any young player. He has to stay calm and continue to work hard, as he truly deserves this opportunity.”

As the festive period approaches, United can ill afford further injuries. They are set to face bottom-placed Wolves at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, a match that Mount is now expected to miss.

For this contest, Amorim opted for a tactical shift away from his usual 3-4-3 formation, implementing a 4-2-3-1 setup instead. This alteration was unexpected, given his previous commitment to the three-at-the-back system since arriving from Sporting last year. In defense, he paired Lisandro Martinez with Ayden Heaven, while Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot served as full-backs. Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro anchored the midfield behind an attacking trio comprising Matheus Cunha, Mount, and Dorgu, with Benjamin Sesko leading the line.

Amorim previously indicated that he would not deviate from his formation, but he appeared to reevaluate this stance during the pre-match press conference, suggesting a willingness to adapt the system to optimize player performance. He noted, “I believe we can explore different systems in the future to enhance the quality of our play. It is becoming clear that our ideal 3-4-3 setup may not be feasible without significant investment and time. Therefore, adaptation may be necessary.”

United’s next challenge is against a struggling Wolves side, who have lost their last 11 matches across all competitions and will face defending Premier League champions Liverpool on Saturday, desperately seeking their first league victory of the season.

Following the Wolves match, Amorim’s team will kick off 2026 with a fixture against fierce rivals Leeds, and will subsequently face lowly Burnley. United will also compete in the FA Cup against Brighton before concluding the month with the Manchester Derby and a visit to Premier League leaders Arsenal.