Wednesday night marked the first occasion in recent weeks where questions have been asked regarding Michael Carrick‘s decision-making as Manchester United head coach, following the drab 1-1 draw with West Ham United.

The biggest critique will have been the decision not to make a substitution until the 69th minute, even with the visitors having evidently struggled to get going at that stage.

Of course, to Carrick’s credit, that introduction of Benjamin Sesko did bear fruit in stoppage time, with the Englishman also gambling late on by replacing Diogo Dalot with Joshua Zirkzee.

For the second time in three games, Sesko came to the rescue in stoppage time, ensuring the Slovenian is now certainly pushing for a starting berth, after scoring six times in his last five appearances.

The introduction of the 22-year-old would force Carrick into an attacking alteration, however, with Bryan Mbeumo‘s role perhaps up for debate.

Why Man Utd’s Bryan Mbeumo experiment needs to end

Perhaps the only significant benefit of Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system was the ability to have both Mbeumo and Amad operating in tandem down the right flank, with the pair notably combining for goals away at Anfield and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Shifting to a 4-2-3-1 has then altered the dynamic, with Carrick deploying Amad on the right wing, while Mbeumo has flitted between a false nine role, or, as was the case against West Ham, a left-wing berth.

United’s top scorer has certainly flourished this season, while netting against Spurs, Arsenal and Manchester City in recent weeks, although the lack of a focal point was evident in midweek, as the Cameroonian failed to get into the game in truth.

It wasn’t until the 26-year-old moved over to the right late on, following Zirkzee’s introduction, that he truly sparked into life, cutting in to fire an effort on goal at one stage, while producing the cross which led to Sesko’s last-gasp equaliser.

With nine Premier League goals to his name this season, Mbeumo perhaps shouldn’t be the one being relocated here there and everywhere, ensuring a return to the right flank might be the best course of action for the trip to Everton next time around.

With Bruno Fernandes operating as the ten, and Sesko in line to feature through the middle, that would then leave Amad and Matheus Cunha tussling to take on Mbeumo’s role off the left, amid the continued absence of Patrick Dorgu.

Neither man was at their best against the Hammers, however, while neither is a natural left-winger, ensuring a different solution may need to be found.

Man Utd’s “Foden regen” could be unleashed on the wing

Looking to the bench on Tuesday night, it was stark the lack of wingers in reserve, with the only real attacking alternatives resting in both Sesko and Zirkzee – two centre-forwards by trade.

Related

Club-record deal: Man Utd lead race to sign £100m star in Mbeumo repeat

INEOS could spend a hefty sum to bring a Premier League star to Manchester United.

A string of widemen have been sent packing in recent times, namely Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Antony, leaving Carrick desperately short on the left flank, in particular.

With Cunha typically inclined to come inside, and with Amad and Mbeumo favouring a role on the right, it could be a chance for Shea Lacey to stake his claim off the left.

Now, like Amad and Mbeumo, the 18-year-old has typically featured as an inverted right-winger to date, with his three cameo appearances in the first-team all coming from that side, including in the FA Cup defeat to Brighton in which the teenager saw red.

That said, Lacey – who has eight goals in eight U21 Premier League games this season – has featured off the left in the academy ranks in the past, described as a “Phil Foden regen” by journalist Jack Kenmare due to his exciting level of talent.

As was seen in his late appearance against Burnley, in which he twice came close to scoring from range, the Englishman loves to cut in onto his favoured left foot from the right, although he can also thrive on the opposite side, weaving his way past defenders no matter his position on the pitch.

That suitability to the left flank has also been seen amid prior comparisons to fellow academy graduate, Ryan Giggs, with the Wales star having been a more orthodox flying winger down that side in his pomp.

While Lacey hasn’t been seen since his unfortunate dismissal against the Seagulls, aside from a place in the matchday squad against Fulham, the trip to the London Stadium showcased that this team is crying out for further options on the flanks.

Mbeumo simply didn’t look comfortable on that side against Nuno Espirito Santo’s men, ensuring if Carrick was to end that attacking experiment, he could well thrust Lacey into the action instead.

Related

INEOS have already signed a “teenage Rooney” who can end Shaw’s Man Utd career

Manchester United already have Luke Shaw’s successor in the building & it’s not Patrick Dorgu.