There were three minutes of normal time remaining at Craven Cottage when fourth official Rob Jones held up the board to tell us that Harry Maguire was coming on as a late substitute again for Manchester United.
After spending more than £200million on forwards Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha this summer, Ruben Amorim had turned to the big centre-back in search of a goal for the second game in a row.
Maguire almost came up with one as well, meeting Mbeumo’s corner with a header narrowly wide of the post a matter of seconds later.
There’s no doubt the 32-year-old defender is a threat in the opponent’s box, and Amorim is by no means the first United manager to use him to go route one in times of need.
It wasn’t so much what rolling the dice said about Maguire – who was also sent on as a late substitute in the defeat to Arsenal at Old Trafford a week earlier – as Amorim’s three summer signings and the other options available to him.
Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo, an attacking midfielder who has come up with a few late goals in his time at United, were both left kicking their heels on the bench again. It would have been fascinating to listen in as the two unused substitutes chatted away from their teammates at the final whistle.
After spending £200m on forwards, Ruben Amorim turned to Harry Maguire as his attacking threat – again
Maguire was sent on late in the draw at Fulham, as he was against Arsenal, in search of a goal
Striker Benjamin Sesko was again made to come off the bench despite signing for £74m
Then there’s Rasmus Hojlund, banished from the squad since United signed Sesko, who would have been chomping at the bit to make a point to his manager here.
Instead, Amorim once again started with Mason Mount as a false nine with Cunha and Mbeumo either side of him. Mount at least won a penalty that was missed by Bruno Fernandes before dropping into midfield when Sesko replaced Casemiro early in the second half.
Cunha had the best of United’s other chances, hitting the post with one, and Mbeumo looked lively again. But the simple fact is that when United’s goal arrived, it did so off the head of defender Leny Yoro and the back of Fulham No.9 Rodrigo Muniz. Sesko barely had a sniff.
‘I think he needs time,’ said Amorim. ‘It’s not easy. He’s understanding that the game is even faster than the Bundesliga, but he is fighting. I felt that when he was on the pitch we were not on in our best moment and that can change the way you see a player.
‘I felt that during these last games with Mason Mount sometimes we are more robust in the way we play. So we are going to change according to the result and the opponent and try to win games.
‘We are going to score goals because we are creating so many chances and that is the important thing.’
Hojlund is expected to be gone by the time the transfer window closes amid interest from Napoli. It would be surprising if Zirkzee and Mainoo are not also giving serious consideration to their futures at Old Trafford.
Amorim admitted on Friday that there is no update on Mainoo’s contract impasse which has dragged on for a year, and not playing in either of the opening two games is hardly going to help the situation.
Rasmus Hojlund is expected to be gone by the time the transfer window closes amid interest from Napoli
Kobbie Mainoo has not played a minute this campaign and is in a battle with Bruno Fernandes which he is likely to lose
Amorim hinted that signing Mbeumo and Cunha for the two No.10 positions in his system has only made it harder for the Stockport-born youngster because captain Fernandes has now dropped into midfield.
‘He’s fighting for the position now with Bruno, as it should be at Manchester United,’ said Amorim.
It doesn’t feel like a fight Mainoo is likely to win anytime soon.
