- Altay Bayindir has not played for Man United since joining the club last summer
- This weekend he will finally make his debut in the absence of Andre Onana
- Newport away is a NIGHTMARE match for Manchester United. Erik ten Hag cannot afford to lose It all starts
Erik ten Hag has confirmed that Altay Bayindir will make his Manchester United debut in goal against Newport County on Sunday, and backed the Turkish keeper to handle the pressure of the occasion.
Bayindir will make his first appearance since a £4.3million summer transfer from Fenerbahce, replacing Andre Onana who is away with Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The 25-year-old has been patiently waiting for his opportunity while Onana has played every match this season, but Ten Hag said he will be in the line-up against League Two Newport at Rodney Parade.
“He will be in goal,” said the United manager. “What we can expect from him is that he waits for his opportunity, but he is experienced. He played for a big club in Turkey under a lot of pressure.
‘He knows how to tackle things and we were convinced. So we are looking forward to Sunday. Altay has been waiting for his chance and this is his moment.”
Altay Bayindir will make his Man United debut against Newport County this weekend
He replaces Andre Onana who is away with Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations
Erik ten Hag has backed Bayindir to cope with pressure in the potential FA Cup tie against banana peels
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When asked why he is confident that the 1.80 meter tall goalkeeper can handle the pressure, Ten Hag replied: ‘Have you been to Fenerbahçe? Busy. Also Turkey, that is always a lot of pressure, also for the national team, so he knows how to deal with that.’
Ten Hag emphasized that his players will not underestimate the team from Newport County, who are looking forward to the biggest match in the club’s history in front of 9,000 fans.
“In the Netherlands we also have the cup and we play the matches against teams from the lower league,” he added. ‘If, as a big club, you play against a team from a lower division, no matter how you approach it, we are certainly not in a position to underestimate them.’
United were defeated by Manchester City in the FA Cup final in June and Ten Hag admitted this is their only chance of a trophy this season after slipping to eighth in the Premier League.
“It’s the truth,” he said. ‘The FA Cup, as you say, is probably a last chance for the trophy and that’s what we’re going for.’