Altay Bayindir will make his Manchester United debut against Newport County in the FA Cup fourth round.
The Turkey international joined United from Fenerbahce on transfer deadline day in a deal worth £4.28 million, but Andre Onana has started in all 30 games since then as first choice goalkeeper.
United manager Erik ten Hag has now confirmed that Bayindir will replace Onana, who is away on international duty with Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations, as he prepares to make his debut on Sunday.
“He will be in the goal,” Ten Hag told reporters, as per the Manchester Evening News. “What we can expect for him is clear. He waits for his chance but he is experienced, he played in a big club in Turkey under big pressure, he knows how to deal with it.
“We were all very convinced when we brought him into this club. So we are looking forward to Sunday. Altay is very motivated, he can’t wait for this moment and now this is his moment.”
Then, Ten Hag was asked about the pressure Bayindir will face against an opponent from League Two. The boss replied: “You have been in Fenerbahce? Pressure. Also, Turkey, that is big pressure always, also for the national team. So he knows how to deal with it.
“Also in the Netherlands, we have the cup, we also play against lower-class teams. Always when you go, as a big club to a low class team, how you approach that, definitely we’re not in a position to underestimate any opponent so we will not.”
United fans don’t know what to expect from Bayindir, but some feel it can’t he can’t be any worse than Onana, who has had a rocky start to life at United.
Bayindir will be aiming to start his United career with a debut against Newport.
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