ONE unnamed Manchester United star has already had a “b****cking” from Ruben Amorim’s lieutenant Tom Heaton.
Third choice goalkeeper Heaton has been a shock inclusion in Amorim’s new six-man squad leadership group at Old Trafford.
Heaton, who turns 40 next year, signed a one-year contract with United in June and continues to be a key voice in the dressing room.
Heaton, Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire are the three players part of the old United leadership group who are in the new one.
The latest additions to the sextet are Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez and 2024 signing Noussair Mazraoui.
When asked if he’d already dished out some telling-offs, Heaton told Manchester Evening News: “Yes, but only naturally.
“It’s not just about delivering sort of b****ckings.
“I think it’s also about supporting people who need it, trying to make sure we’re guiding it and channelling it in the right way.”
When revealing his new committee during United’s pre-season tour of America, Amorim said: “They are responsible for the group.
“There are some things that in the last year I had to deal with. I said to them this year, you deal with that. Small issues are with you guys.
“You are responsible. All these small changes, I think it’s helping the group.”
The group is a diverse mix of three players in their thirties and three in their twenties, representing four countries across three continents.
Joining under Sir Alex Ferguson in 2005, Heaton has spent 14 years with United through two different stints and rejoined his boyhood club in 2021.
The 6ft 2in Chester-born star added: “I think he (Amorim) feels quite strongly about having a group of players that have a strong influence on the dressing room.
“It provides a little bit of support to Bruno in that respect. That’s how it came about and obviously honoured as ever to be part of that and try and have as much influence on it as I possibly can.”
An insider told SunSport that as the club’s longest serving player Luke Shaw was extremely frustrated about being left out of the committee.
However, only one of the leadership group is a nailed on starter to face Arsenal in their Prem opener on Sunday – skipper Fernandes.
No.2 goalkeeper Altay Bayindir is set to start in goal as Andre Onana nurses himself back to full fitness from a hamstring injury picked up in training.
Dalot is no longer a certain starter, with Amad Diallo the favoured option on the right wing to feed off summer signing Bryan Mbeumo.
And it’s a mix-up in defence with Maguire and Matthijs De Ligt battling for a place to start next to 19-year-old Leny Yoro at centre-back.
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BRYAN MBEUMO showed fans what they’ve been missing as Manchester United beat Fiorentina 5-4 on penalties in their final pre-season friendly.
United were a mixed bag in their final summer warm-up game- and the only one at Old Trafford – before the start of the new season next Sunday.
United unveiled their four new signings but it was Benjamin Sesko – who was announced from RB Leipzig before kick-off – that got the loudest roar from fans.
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