The Cameroonian international's omission followed a series of high-profile errors, notably in the first leg of the Europa League quarterfinal against Lyon last week, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Adding to the scrutiny, Lyon midfielder Nemanja Matic had recently described Onana as "one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United history."
In Onana's absence against Newcastle, backup goalkeeper Altay Bayindir was given the nod. However, Bayindir also endured a difficult outing, notably being at fault for Newcastle's fourth goal.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim addressed his decision to reinstate Onana. "As a coach and also a former player, I try to do things that can help a player in this situation," Amorim explained. "So sometimes we talk about managing players physically, but you also have to manage them mentally. Then they have to return to competition."
Amorim elaborated on his thought process, stating, "And Onana is ready. He had one week when I felt like it was better for him to not play and a good thing for Altay to play. This week, my thinking is to put Onana to play."
When pressed about Manchester United's potential plans for a new goalkeeper in the upcoming offseason, Amorim declined to comment, keeping the focus on the immediate task at hand.
The Europa League represents a crucial pathway for Manchester United to secure qualification for next season's prestigious Champions League. With their Premier League form proving inconsistent, a victory in the Europa League would guarantee their place among Europe's elite clubs.
The return of Onana in such a high-stakes encounter underscores the manager's faith in his first-choice goalkeeper despite recent criticisms and errors. The match against Lyon will be a significant test for both Onana and Manchester United as they strive to progress in the competition and achieve their Champions League aspirations.