Silver lining after Heaven's hell

THERE is another pot to add to the Bangkok Century Cup, Snapdragon Cup and Defining Education Challenge Cup for Manchester United: the Premier League Summer Series trophy.

- By SAMUEL LUCKHURST

They are not attractions that merit plinths in the club museum or will get supporters flocking to the Old Trafford tour. United did not beat Everton in Atlanta but this has been one of their most buoyant tours in years.

This was the least accomplished of United's performances in the States. The only post-match activity Ruben Amorim must have relished would have been the on-pitch training session as opposed to a trophy presentation.

Even without a new No.9, United have rallied eight goals across three games. They have avoided casualties in defence, a department usually hit by injury crises, but their midfield is thin.

In this squad with a surfeit of No.10s, another popped up with a goal. Mason Mount's winner evoked memories of his tie-killing strike against Athletic Bilbao in May. That goal and cameo effectively earned Mount a promotion to the starting XI for the Europa League final. Mount is even more up against it to regain a starting status.

A commentator familiar to American soccer audiences announced the lineups as if it were a wrestling event. In case any body could not hear him, the 360-degree giant screen listed Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha in the same United lineup together for the first time.

United's warm-ups consist of defence-versus-attack drills and their setup in the magnificent Mercedes-Benz Stadium confirmed Cunha would be the centre forward. He was the only one not to hit his cue in the fifth minute when played in by Amad.