Why Ayden Heaven missed Leeds United clash

Manchester United made it six without a win in all competitions on Sunday afternoon, drawing 1-1 with Leeds United.

The Red Devils finished the game with a botched back line of Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot. All but Maguire were out of their best position.

With right-footed Dalot playing on the left, United sacrificed some width.

In midweek, with Luke Shaw out, Michael Carrick had gone with Ayden Heaven there.

The 20-year-old, signed from Arsenal in 2025, played 80 minutes at left-back at the Wanda Metropolitano versus Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, but missed the game against Leeds.

Heaven missed out at Elland Road due to illness, according to Manchester Evening News reporter Steven Railston on X.

The Englishman would have been a miss in a game where United were forced to be more defensively sound up against a physical and stretching Daniel Farke team.

The back line that ended up finishing the encounter would have been better fit with Heaven playing.

He has only started one Premier League match this season, featuring off the bench on one other occasion.

During the international break, Heaven got his hands on international silverware, alongside Harry Amass, Jack Fletcher, Jim Thwaites, and Shea Lacey.

The England and Manchester United teammates secured the La Nucia trophy after a tournament victory in Spain for England’s Under-20’s side.

Heaven still awaits his first taste of silverware in a Red Devils shirt, but is clearly an exciting option for the future.

At just 20, there’s plenty of potential to be met.

Michael Carrick will be hoping the defender can quickly recover from his illness in time for the club’s midweek trip to Como in the UEFA Champions League, as the pressure continues to build over the United head coach.