Two Manchester United players are playing their way into FA Cup final team after Newcastle win

The Manchester United fans were just reciting their chant about Alan Shearer when they were suddenly halted by Amad. The goading was upgraded to cheering.

Regular watchers of United have wondered for months why Amad has been restricted to the role of benchwarmer. In the past week he has demonstrated why the privileges Antony enjoyed under Erik ten Hag were unjustified.

This was Amad's second goal of the season and minutes away from being his second winner. Until last week, Amad was only introduced whenever United were drawing or losing. Here, they were winning.

The former Sunderland loanee's goal will have been celebrated with particular gusto on Wearside. Amad savoured his celebration in front of the black-and-white shirts in the away section.

Amad is assured of cult status for his heroism against Liverpool and has been an immeasurable upgrade on the one-paced and one-dimensional Antony. He has dropped the 'Diallo' from his name yet the crowd chanted "Amad Diallo".

READ MORE: Player ratings vs Newcastle

READ MORE: United vs Newcastle as it happened

This was the first time Amad had started successive matches for United in a season he first appeared in back in December. Omari Forson, due to be released next month, was selected ahead of him in the home defeat to Fulham in February.

Only two United forwards are certain of remaining at the club beyond the closure of the summer transfer window. Amad, a £37million investment on transfer deadline day in 2020, is a talent the incumbent or future United manager should welcome the sight of in their squad.

Ditto Kobbie Mainoo. Ten Hag joined in with the thousands of United supporters to put his hands together for the 19-year-old when he shielded the ball from Bruno Guimaraes. Ten Hag was doing so again moments later.

Mainoo's goal did not trump the verve of his control and carry with Bruno Guimaraes breathing down his neck for technique but it did for importance. United had not gone 1-0 up at home in the first half since that uproarious cup tie with Liverpool on St Patrick's Day.

Despite Lewis Hall denying United a rare victory by a two-goal margin, this was a much-needed jovial send-off for Wembley. United were always guaranteed to head into the final day in eighth and Chelsea are out of reach but they have drawn level on points with Newcastle.

This was a rare good evening for Ten Hag. He must also be privately relieved United have avoided the ignominy of breaking double figures for home defeats in a season. United cannot lose as many matches as they have won, either.

Mainoo has undeniably benefited from being reacquainted with an outright defensive midfielder in Sofyan Amrabat after his mismatch with the creaking Christian Eriksen. Mainoo started in the defeat at Newcastle in December, an early learning curve. Here, he curled the ball beyond Martin Dubravka's reach.

Amrabat is making a belated push for an FA Cup final inclusion that would have been unforeseeable this time last week. He stretched every sinew to prevent Alexander Isak from nudging Newcastle ahead and earned high fives all round.

Ten Hag's refusal to accommodate Amrabat and Amad in recent weeks, logical options that would have provided balance and improvement, appear more inexplicable now they are in the team. United are better with them than without them.

Casemiro had a conflab with Ten Hag while his teammates celebrated with Mainoo. He enjoyed his best five minutes as a centre half within the restart, bailing out a rare error from Amrabat and clearing off the line from Dan Burn. Either side of that, Amrabat spared Casemiro and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, given a chasing by the electric Anthony Gordon.

Strikerless United were more enterprising, buoyed by the return of Fernandes and his impetus in a false nine role. "There's only one Bruno," the Newcastle fans intoned, in reverence for their Brazilian linchpin. Fernandes and the Stretford End suggested otherwise. Fernandes received a standing ovation upon his removal in the 90th minute.

Dan Ashworth will not be in the Old Trafford directors' box for several months but he leaves an auspicious legacy at Newcastle. Of all the recruits on his watch at Tyneside, the £45m Newcastle parted with to attain Gordon was possibly their shrewdest steal.

In front of England assistant Steve Holland, Gordon scored his third goal against United. He is becoming their scourge and the impromptu rendition of "You Scouse b*****d" only accentuated his delight. Gordon turned to the Stretford Enders as though he were their conductor.

Rasmus Hojlund was rested more than dropped by Ten Hag, who omitted the Dane's form of one goal in ten from his rationale. Some United players have been so unconvinced about Hojlund's capabilities they have been hesitant about servicing him and he is bottom of the 46 strikers in the Premier League for shots per 90 minutes.

Or was. Hojlund notched his 15th goal of the season past the flimsy Dubravka and pressed his index finger against his lips in celebration.

There was, to no surprise, no Anthony Martial to deputise. Martial's Old Trafford career ended with his celebrated removal in the 3-0 humbling by Bournemouth all the way back on December 9. Astonishingly, Martial was serenaded as he ended the lap of honour.

Andre Onana abandoned short goal kicks as early as the second minute. He was more decisive with his hands, repelling a shot from Sean Longstaff and Joelinton's header.

Eddie Howe, the Newcastle coach, was on his haunches more than once in disbelief at their profligacy. He was shielded by a defensive trident for the final minutes as Lisandro Martinez stepped onto the Old Trafford pitch for the first time since February.

With victory secured, United fans resumed their heckling of Shearer in added time.