Manchester United remain in the dark over the availability of Bryan Mbeumo, Noussair Mazraoui and Amad ahead of their clash against Bournemouth on Monday.
Mbeumo, Mazraoui and Amad Availability In Doubt For Bournemouth
Manchester United are still awaiting confirmation as to whether AFCON-bound trio Bryan Mbeumo, Noussair Mazraoui and Amad are available to face Bournemouth on Monday night.
The AFCON deadline for English clubs to release their players for the tournament, like the Red Devils’ Premier League clash against the Cherries at Old Trafford, is set for Monday.
This has left the Red Devils in limbo over their players’ availability for the fixture.
Ruben Amorim revealed that discussions are being held with Mbeumo’s Cameroon, Mazraoui’s Morocco and Amad’s Ivory Coast as to whether they can remain with the club for an extra day.
“We are still in conversations with the national teams, the game’s on Monday, they are here, training and we are trying to prepare all scenarios,” Amorim said in his press conference.
“It’s frustrating but at the same time nobody knows who is going to play, so it’s a good thing.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be the same situation [when each player goes to AFCON].
“Every national team has an idea about when they want the players. I expect today or maybe tomorrow to have a decision but we are waiting until the last moment to choose the best team.”
Regardless, the trio will be departing for the tournament at some point next week. It comes as a major blow for Amorim, with Mbeumo currently leading as United’s top goalscorer this term.
It is expected that United turn to their academy while Mazraoui and co are representing their nations, with the likes of Shea Lacey and Jack Fletcher tipped to step up to the task.
Manchester United Injury Update: Sesko, De Ligt and Maguire Latest
United are also dealing with a trio of injury concerns ahead of Monday night.
Benjamin Sesko and Harry Maguire have both missed each of the Red Devils’ last four matches, and Matthijs de Ligt has missed the last two due to their respective injuries.
Amorim provided the latest on all three in his pre-match press conference.
He confirmed that both Maguire and De Ligt remain out, but Sesko could make his return.
“Harry Maguire is out, Matthijs de Ligt is out, Ben [Sesko] we have to see. We have to see if he’s available, he has some food poisoning but let’s wait, we have two training sessions still.”
On De Ligt, he continued: “He has something in his back, I don’t know for sure, you see it’s not a big injury but he has some pain. We have to be careful with that.”
The Red Devils occupy sixth place in the English top-flight table ahead of the weekend’s action, having lost just one of their last nine league matches since the start of October.
Despite this, performances haven’t been great. This has seen pressure mount on Amorim, whose treatment of Kobbie Mainoo has drawn mass criticism, with Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner favoured to replace him according to the next Manchester United manager odds market.
