Patrick Dorgu’s first Manchester United goal delivered a 1-0 Premier League win over Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Boxing Day, lifting Ruben Amorim’s side into fifth place on 29 points, although Chelsea, Liverpool and Sunderland still have opportunities to overtake during this weekend’s remaining fixtures.
The Denmark international struck a precise first-time volley into Aaron Ramsdale’s bottom-left corner, converting from a set play for his first United goal in any competition, scored in Dorgu’s 38th appearance and with his 31st attempt, as Manchester United moved clear as the league’s leading team for set-piece goals this season.
That finish came from another rehearsed routine, with United’s tally of 13 Premier League goals from set plays,
excluding penalties, now the highest in the division and already their best return in a league campaign since the 2017-18 season, when they finished with 15 such strikes.
Key numbers from Patrick Dorgu’s performance and Manchester United set plays against Newcastle United are shown below.
| Statistic | Figure |
|---|---|
| Patrick Dorgu appearances for Manchester United | 38 |
| Patrick Dorgu shots before first goal | 31 |
| Premier League set-play goals for Manchester United 2025-26* | 13 |
| Most set-play goals in a league season since | 2017-18 (15) |
*Penalties not included.
Dorgu described the strike as a surprise even after repeated work on that technique in training and spoke about the emotional impact of scoring at Old Trafford, while also outlining how specific guidance from Ruben Amorim had influenced both confidence and decision-making before facing Newcastle United.
"It was a good hit. I didn't know I could do that, but I was very happy to score my first goal in this stadium as well. It was amazing, Dorgu told Sky Sports.
"I just took what he [Ruben Amorim] told me to work on my confidence and stuff. I think I did well today. I just looked at the ball, saw it drop, and I just hit it. I've been practising in training, so I think that's what helped me. "
1 - In his 38th game and with his 31st shot for the club, Patrick Dorgu has scored his first Manchester United goal in all competitions. Worthy. pic.twitter.com/h6zke3BidSOptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 26, 2025
Manchester United’s result arrived despite several influential absentees, with Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo away at the Africa Cup of Nations and Bruno Fernandes missing after an injury against Aston Villa, forcing Ruben Amorim to adjust both structure and selection for this Premier League meeting with Newcastle United.
This was also the first time Manchester United had claimed a Premier League victory without Fernandes since a 3-2 success against Tottenham in March 2022 under Ralf Rangnick, breaking a difficult sequence in which the team had lost five of six league matches without the midfielder between that game and 26 December 2025, drawing the other.
Old Trafford form has started to improve under Amorim as well, following a slow beginning at Manchester United, with only four wins across the first 14 home league fixtures, along with two draws and eight defeats, before a run of five victories from the last eight top-flight matches there, with two draws and one loss.
Ruben Amorim turned to Dorgu on the right side of midfield rather than at full-back against Newcastle United, and then underlined how that positional change altered the 21-year-old’s responsibilities, giving more licence on the ball and, in Amorim’s view, bringing a more relaxed and effective display from the player.
"You put him in one position that is more in front the responsibility is not the same, Amorim added. He has more freedom to lose the ball and I think it helped Patrick to play better, so they just need to understand. Even Manu [Ugarte], I think Manu had a very good game. They need to understand you can have a good day and the next day can be worse, and you have to deal with that and train well and go forward.
The narrow win over Newcastle United therefore strengthened Manchester United’s Premier League position, highlighted Amorim’s growing influence at Old Trafford and showcased Dorgu’s development, with the first club goal, productive set-play work and tactical tweaks all combining to provide a timely boost for the squad during a demanding period.
