Ayden Heaven’s first Premier League start has taken a dramatic turn, with the young defender picking up a yellow card inside the opening minutes against West Ham — forcing Manchester United into immediate tactical caution and prompting Leny Yoro to begin warming up unusually early.
A tough introduction for the academy talent
Heaven, widely regarded as one of United’s brightest defensive prospects, looked jittery from the start. West Ham identified his inexperience and pressed aggressively through Callum Wilson and Jarrod Bowen, repeatedly dragging him out of position.
The sequence unfolded quickly:
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Heaven was turned too easily by Wilson near midfield.
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Moments later, Bowen targeted the same space, forcing Heaven into a crude, mistimed tackle.
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The referee showed him a yellow card just minutes into the match, putting him under immediate pressure for the rest of the half.
Why Yoro started warming up
With Heaven on a booking in only his first league start — and more than 80 minutes still to survive — Amorim reacted swiftly. Leny Yoro was sent to warm up, signalling that United may need to make an early defensive switch if the pattern continues.
For Heaven, it’s a baptism under fire. For United, it’s now a delicate balancing act between trusting a rising star and protecting the team structure in a high-stakes match.
