Ruben Amorim Hails Cunha's Return as Manchester United Prep for West Ham Clash

Ruben Amorim

Ruben Amorim confirms Matheus Cunha is fit to face West Ham as Manchester United look to climb back into top four.

“We have two doubts for the game but I will not tell you today...”

Manchester United is getting a boost with Matheus Cunha's return to fitness, just in time for their Premier League clash with West Ham United at Old Trafford on Thursday. Manager Ruben Amorim confirmed Cunha is fit to feature, having missed the last two games due to a head injury.

However, Amorim also mentioned two injury doubts that could impact his tactical approach, though he didn't reveal who they are. Defender Harry Maguire and striker Benjamin Sesko remain sidelined, with Maguire dealing with a thigh injury and Sesko recovering from a knee issue.

Amorim expressed his excitement about Cunha's return, saying, “He has more levels to go. He's at a different club, different pressure. He was struggling because he was not scoring, and because of social media abuse. He was thinking too much about the numbers, but the influence he has in the team is important to us.”

“We have two doubts for the game but I will not tell you today,” Amorim said on Wednesday.

“It will change the way we're going to approach it, let's see if they can play. The rest of the squad is good. Matheus is back. Harry and Sesko are still out.”

The return of Matheus Nunes aka Cunha is a welcome boost for Manchester United, who are currently in seventh place, three points off the top four. The 26-year-old is clearly thrilled to be back, posting a photo of himself on social media in full training gear at Carrington, and writing: “Back back back.”

Unlocking Cunha's Full Potential

Ruben Amorim believes Manchester United fans haven't seen the best of Matheus Cunha yet. The forward, a key summer signing, has shown glimpses of his talent, but Amorim thinks he can reach even higher levels. “He has more levels to go,” Amorim said, highlighting Cunha's potential to make a bigger impact.

Nunes' absence was felt, and his return will add creativity and flair to United's midfield. With his dynamic playing style, he's expected to make an immediate impact. Manager Erik ten Hag will be pleased to have him back in the squad.

“He has more levels to go. He's at a different club, different pressure. He was struggling because he was not scoring and because of social media abuse. He was thinking too much about the numbers, but the influence he has in the team is important to us,” Amorim said.

“I think he has so much to grow offensively and defensively.”

Leny Yoro's early substitution against Crystal Palace was a surprise, but Ruben Amorim is urging him not to dwell on the mistake that led to the penalty. The 20-year-old French defender looked frustrated on the bench, but Amorim believes he needs to move on from the error.

"It shows that he cares." ❤️

Ruben was asked about Leny in part one of our pre-West Ham press conference 👇

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 3, 2025

Amorim's approach is to focus on the positives, and he thinks Yoro has the potential to learn from this experience. “He's a young player, he's learning,” Amorim said. “He needs to stop beating himself up after mistakes and keep moving forward.”

Manchester United's Ruben Amorim is breathing a sigh of relief after FIFA reduced the release period for players heading to the Africa Cup of Nations from 14 days to 7 days before their team's first game. This means Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast) and Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon) will be available for United's home game against Bournemouth on December 15th.

The Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on December 21, and both Ivory Coast and Cameroon have their opening matches on December 24. With the new release period, Amorim can utilize Diallo and Mbeumo in the crucial match against Bournemouth, giving him a much-needed boost.