Manchester United could be without six players for Monday night’s clash with Bournemouth – as Ruben Amorim awaits a decision on the availability of three AFCON-bound stars.
Manchester United could be missing up to six players for Monday night’s home clash against Bournemouth. The Red Devils are keeping the availability of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad and Bryan Mbeumo under wraps as they each prepare to jet off to the Africa Cup of Nations.
FIFA has set a release date of Monday, December 15 (today), for all clubs to release players for the tournament, which starts in Morocco on Sunday. This, however, has created a predicament for United, as their match against the Cherries is scheduled just five days before the tournament begins.
United officials have been in discussion with the football federations of Cameroon, Morocco and the Ivory Coast regarding all three players in an attempt to secure an extension. The extension would allow them to participate in the Bournemouth match before jetting off to the tournament.
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United head coach Ruben Amorim expressed his uncertainty in Friday’s pre-match press conference over whether the trio would be able to play in the game when asked for an update on the situation.
The ex-Sporting CP boss confessed his frustration with the situation, just three days before the match. Elsewhere, defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire are out injured, while striker Benjamin Sesko remains a doubt due to food poisoning, despite having returned to first-team training after a knee injury.
When quizzed about the availability of United’s players on Friday, Amorim revealed that some decisions might be made at the last minute. He disclosed: “Maguire is out, De Ligt is out. Ben [Sesko], we have to see.
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“We have to see if he’s available. He had some [food] poisoning, but we’ll see. Let’s wait.
“We have two trainings still. The other two are out, Benjamin, we will assess.”
Amorim later elaborated on De Ligt’s injury, which saw him miss the draw against West Ham and then the victory over Wolves on Monday night.
“I think he has something in his back, I don’t know for sure,” he continued. “Sometimes you see it’s not a big injury, because he finished the game quite well against Crystal Palace, but he has some pain.
“You sometimes think it will be solved during this week, but sometimes he feels a little bit of pain, and we have to be a little careful with that.”
Regarding those heading to AFCON, he added: “I expect today [Friday] to have a decision or maybe tomorrow, but we are waiting until the last moment to have all the players available – to choose the best team to start the game.”
Expected Man Utd squad vs Bournemouth;
Goalkeepers: Senne Lammens, Altay Bayındır
Defenders: Leny Yoro, Luke Shaw, Ayden Heaven, Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui, Patrick Dorgu, Tyrell Malacia
Midfielders: Amad, Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte, Mason Mount, Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo
Forwards: Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, Joshua Zirkzee, Shea Lacey
