Andrey Santos’ Manchester United start has taken another disappointing turn, with the midfielder named among the substitutes for Sunday afternoon’s derby against Manchester City.
Santos was signed from Chelsea during the summer after seeking regular first-team football, but he has yet to establish himself in Michael Carrick’s side. His latest omission comes despite fellow central midfielder Carlos Baleba being unavailable through injury.
The Brazilian has not started since United’s opening-day defeat by Hull. He was also left out of the rotated team that faced Sabah in midweek in the Champions League.
Andrey Santos finds himself in a familiar situation
Santos’ move to Manchester United was intended to provide a greater opportunity than he had been afforded at Stamford Bridge. Instead, he has once again found himself regularly waiting for his chance from the bench.
The situation is particularly unfortunate given Chelsea’s own midfield changes. Enzo Fernandez has since left the club, while Moises Caicedo has missed the start of the season with an injury.
As a result, Santos might have been in contention to start all four of Chelsea’s Premier League matches, potentially giving him his most consistent run in the side since joining the club.
There is still time for the midfielder to force his way into the Manchester United team and make a success of the season. For now, however, Santos faces a battle to earn Carrick’s confidence and secure a regular starting place.
