Fans and pundits rate Leny Yoro's contribution
Manchester United defender Leny Yoro has garnered attention for an all-action display away to Fulham in the Premier League.
The Frenchman had a key hand in opening the scoring in west London, rising tall in a crowded Cottagers box to make sure he was first to a Bryan Mbeumo corner delivery.
The subsequent header was officially awarded as a Rodrigo Muniz own goal after taking a fortunate deflection off the striker and into Fulham's goal, but it was Yoro who had done the hard work to seal the opener.
That lead held for just under 20 minutes, when Emile Smith Rowe netted the equaliser for the home side, establishing a 1-1 scoreline that would hold until the end of the game.
In an ideal world, Yoro's contribution would have produced all three points, but his effort was still crucial in securing our first point of the new season – not only in front of goal but at the other end of the pitch, too.
The 19-year-old recorded the most tackles of any player on the pitch (2), including a perfectly timed sliding challenge on Joshua King as the last man to prevent the young midfielder going one-on-one with Altay Bayindir.
Yoro was recognised by fans for his actions across the field, and was voted our star man on the day with 38 per cent in our post-match poll.
Matheus Cunha came in second with 28 per cent, the Brazilian hitting the woodwork once and causing the Cottagers' defence a headache all afternoon, with Mbeumo also noted for his hand in the goal, taking third place with seven per cent of the vote.
"I'm really excited to see him this season," Danny Simpson said of Yoro on MUTV after the game. "He looks like he's making that position his own, on the right of the three [in defence]."
Yoro's part in United's goal came just minutes after he'd extinguished the threat of King's attack, influence not lost on MUTV commentators Liam Bradford and Ben Thornley at the time.
"Moments after making an inch-perfect tackle," Bradford exclaimed. "He comes up trumps at the other end of the field and the young Parisian gives Manchester United the lead."
"As you said, Liam, having maybe saved a chance at one end, he's now given Manchester United the lead," Thornley concurred.
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There was also plenty of praise reserved for Cunha, who came second in the fan vote for the swathe of chances he was involved in.
"Wearing the no.10 for United, it's a big shirt," Simpson told MUTV. "But he makes it seem very light.
"He wants the ball all the time, he wants to create. He's got no fear, and that's what I love about him. He takes things on."
Attention for the Reds now turns to Carabao Cup action, where we'll face Grimsby Town, before heading back to Old Trafford next weekend to face Burnley in the Premier League.