Amorim needs more signings ahead of a tough start to season

HIS is a season that demands a start on the front foot.

- By SAMUEL LUCKHURST

The opening fixture against Arsenal at Old Trafford will evoke memories for many Manchester United fans of the sunkissed 4-1 thrashing of the champions in 1989.

United invested strikingly that summer, yet lost three of their first five matches.

This coming season, after Arsenal visit, United are at Manchester City and host Chelsea in September.

David Moyes complained that the fixture computer had pitted United against Chelsea, Liverpool and City in his first five fixtures.

That defeatist attitude was one of innumerable reasons why he was always ill-suited to United.

Amorim’s first full season begins similarly (Liverpool are lurking around the corner in October).

United were actually unbeaten in three games with City last season, two of their best performances were against Arsenal and they narrowly lost at Chelsea five days before the Europa League final.

United will not look markedly different when they lineup against the Gunners on August 17. The best-case scenario is there will be three new signings starting: Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and a new striker.

The sight of his former Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres with a cannon stitched to his shirt rather than a devil may cause Ruben Amorim to drop to his haunches sooner than usual.