Ruben Amorim should borrow a page from Sir Alex Ferguson’s playbook on how to handle the development of Manchester United duo Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven.
Leny Yoro has been a regular Manchester United first-team player under manager Ruben Amorim and the 20-year-old Frenchman has impressed at times for his side.
Rio Ferdinand has always urged patience with Leny Yoro
However, the United ace has found himself under the spotlight in recent weeks amid question marks over his form in the three-man backline of Amorim’s tactical system.
Yoro has appeared more exposed than usual in the defensive set-up, which has been hit with injuries in recent weeks in the 2025-26 Premier League campaign.
Ayden Heaven has been afforded the opportunity of more United first-team minutes this season amid the injuries to key defenders Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt.
Man Utd manager Ruben Amorim could look at a former Sir Alex Ferguson signing as the template for Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven
Ayden Heaven has been in the Manchester United starting XI for the last three Premier League matches after Matthijs de Ligt’s injury setback last month.
Leny Yoro, on the other hand, has been in and out of the Red Devils’ line-up in recent weeks before starting in United’s 4-4 draw against Bournemouth on Monday.
Heaven and Yoro have needed to rely on the experience of Luke Shaw in the three-man backline amid the frailties in United’s defensive set-up under Ruben Amorim.
Rio Ferdinand appeared on the latest episode of United’s official podcast and the former TNT Sports pundit offered his two cents on both Heaven and Yoro.
Wes Brown is backing Ayden Heaven! Do you share his confidence?
“I think we’ve said it every time he’s played: he’s been excellent. He’s done his job and hasn’t looked out of place in any way.”
Wes Brown
The 47-year-old United legend suggested that Red Devils duo Heaven and Yoro could need to be managed in the way that Phil Jones was handled at the club.
“I think the introduction of the two young guys has been good and they’re going to need time,” Rio Ferdinand said on Inside Carrington, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“And that’s what I think that Phil could attest to this as well.
“When you come into a team – and Phil came into a more confident, winning team, which is different again – you still need time to adapt.
“You need the right senior players around you to be able to lean on you when you need it, to pick you up and pull you along when you need it.
“And it’s critical that those young players get that within this squad, no matter how the squad’s feeling.”
Sir Alex Ferguson’s approach to Phil Jones has been overlooked and should be something Ruben Amorim adopts at Man Utd
Phil Jones was sat alongside former United teammate Rio Ferdinand during the podcast episode and the ex-England international could be the blueprint for Amorim.
The 33-year-old former United defender’s Old Trafford spell is often overshadowed by his injury-hit problems and lack of consistency in the later stages at the club.
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However, Sir Alex Ferguson thought incredibly highly of Jones and saw the former Blackburn Rovers defender as a long-term prospect at the Premier League club.
Jones arrived at Old Trafford in 2011 and was competing alongside the likes of Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans in the United first-team squad under Ferguson.
The ex-Three Lions star had to contend with Nemanja Vidic and Ferdinand being the first-choice centre-back pairing for iconic former United manager Ferguson.
However, Jones was eased into United first-team experience and received long-term development without the pressure that Yoro and Heaven are currently experiencing.
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