Matheus Cunha scored the goal that rescued a point for Manchester United at Craven Cottage on Sunday, but the performance highlighted a selection problem Michael Carrick has faced throughout the season.

Cunha struck in the 89th minute to salvage a 1-1 draw against Fulham, after an injury to Marcus Rashford moved him from his makeshift role as a central striker to the left flank. Within 12 minutes of the switch, United had their equaliser.

The goal came during a poor overall performance, but it also highlighted the question of where Cunha fits into Carrick's team.

How Rashford's Injury Forced Carrick to Move Cunha to the Left

Carrick started with the same attacking pairing United have used for most of the season. Cunha played through the middle again in place of the injured Benjamin Šeško, while Rashford started on the left.

Before the match, Carrick gave little explanation for Šeško's absence, telling Sky Sports only that the striker "pulled up after the game the other day with a little bit of pain, so we'll have to see how he is."

Cunha was again used as an improvised number nine, a position he has struggled to settle into.

The first half produced chances but no goals. Bernd Leno saved well from Martínez, Bruno Fernandes struck the post from a Cunha cutback, and Rashford missed a good chance of his own, sending a half-volley over the bar from another Cunha pass.

Just after the hour mark, Fulham took the lead after a mistake from United. Cunha lost possession to Calvin Bassey in a deep midfield position. Bassey's shot was awkwardly parried by goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who used his legs instead of his hands.

The loose ball then hit Lisandro Martínez as he tried to clear it and went in for an own goal. The change came in the 77th minute when Rashford went down with an injury and was replaced by Joshua Zirkzee. With Rashford off, Carrick moved Cunha from the middle to the left.

Speaking to beIN Sports after the match, Carrick said the substitution was precautionary.

"We had to bring him off as he had a bit of an issue," he said. Pressed on whether Rashford would be fit going forward, his answer offered little reassurance: "I'm not sure."

How Cunha's Deflected Goal Salvaged a Point for Manchester United

The change also matched a suggestion made by English journalist Henry Winter before kickoff. Winter wrote on social media that United should "swap Cunha and Rashford", allowing Cunha to move in from the left instead of playing alone up front.

Carrick made that switch after Rashford's injury, not as part of his original plan.

Cunha's equaliser also took a deflection. His shot from the left hit Fulham substitute David Affengruber on its way past Leno, with Patrick Dorgu, who had replaced Luke Shaw four minutes earlier, credited with the assist.

The goal earned United a point from a match they had been losing since just after the hour mark. United had another chance to equalise six minutes before Cunha's goal.

Martínez flicked the ball towards Bassey inside the penalty area, with replays showing that the ball struck the Fulham defender's arm. Referee Peter Bankes waved play on, and the decision stood after a VAR check. The Premier League later released the full audio of the review, with the Match Centre confirming:

"The referee's call of no penalty to Manchester United for a potential handball offence by Bassey was checked and confirmed by VAR."

In the released transcript, the assistant referee said Bassey's arm was "close to his body", which was the basis for the decision.

Away from the penalty appeal, the mood in the away end changed during the closing stages. When Carrick replaced Kobbie Mainoo with Mason Mount in the 80th minute, United's travelling supporters responded with audible boos.

Carrick addressed the reaction after the match without taking offence. "There's always going to be certain reactions when you make changes," he said. "Kobbie played well, but we were at the stage of the game where we needed to try to make something happen... he is absolutely fine."

What This Means for Carrick's Selection

The draw leaves United without a win in their last three Premier League matches heading into the international break. Carrick's side will now have to wait until after the break for another chance to end that run.

Carrick will have to decide how to use his forwards when the Premier League resumes. INEOS did not sign another senior forward over the summer, leaving Šeško without a direct replacement. Cunha can continue to fill in through the middle, while Zirkzee is another option.

Even when Šeško returns, Carrick will still need to find a way to use Cunha and Rashford in the same attack without moving either player too far from his preferred position. Fan reaction after the match showed the debate around United's attacking setup.

Some supporters online argued that United "have to start one of Rashford or Cunha and bench the other", saying the team needs more balance. Others suggested that using both players together had affected the cohesion United showed last season.

"The Rashford 2.0 experiment isn’t working to be honest, I can’t fault him for trying but it’s dispelling the harmony and cohesion from last season and Cunha is far more effective on that left side and Mbeumo has become fairly accustomed playing through the middle."

Carrick will have another decision to make when United return from the international break and have a fully fit squad available.