Manchester United await Bryan Mbeumo, Noussair Mazraoui and Amad Diallo Afcon decisions before Bournemouth
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Amad Diallo (left) and Bryan Mbeumo have struck a good partnership on Manchester United's right wing.
PHOTO: REUTERS
MANCHESTER – Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim said the club were preparing for multiple scenarios as they wait to find out if Bryan Mbeumo, Noussair Mazraoui and Amad Diallo are available for the English Premier League home match against Bournemouth on Dec 15.
The three players are due to join their national teams for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), which runs from Dec 21 to Jan 18. Mbeumo represents Cameroon, Mazraoui plays for Morocco and Diallo is part of Ivory Coast’s squad.
The mandatory release date for players competing in the tournament is Dec 15, leaving United uncertain over whether they can feature before departing.
“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 told reporters on Dec 12.
“It’s frustrating but at the same time nobody knows who is going to play, so it’s a good thing. We have players to cope with everything. With a long week, you can see a lot of things and work on several stuff to prepare for the situation.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be the same situation (when each player goes to Afcon). Every national team has their ideas 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.”
United’s injury concerns add further complications. Centre backs Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt remain sidelined, while striker Benjamin Sesko is a doubt.
The 22-year-old Slovenian, signed for €76.5 million (S$116 million) in the close season, has missed United’s last four matches with a knee injury sustained in the 2-2 draw at Tottenham Hotspur in November.
“We have to see if he’s (Sesko) available, he has some food poisoning but let’s wait, we have two training sessions still,” Amorim said.
Before the weekend’s fixtures, United sat sixth in the league table with 25 points from 15 matches, while Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth were 13th with 20 points.
Amorim expects a stern test from the visitors.
“It’s a top team, top manager with special players. I don’t look to the results, I look at the way they face every opponent, they press really strong, they are direct in the game,” the Portuguese said.
“That gives us a lot of options to prepare for the game. I expect a really tough game but we need to win, especially at home.”
The Cherries are winless in six matches since October, although they held Chelsea to a goal-less draw last time out.
They will miss midfielders Tyler Adams and Lewis Cook due to suspension while fellow midfielder Ryan Christie, winger Ben Gannon-Doak and defender Veljko Milosavljevic are out injured.
Bournemouth manager Iraola said: “We need to focus on our defensive side and then you stop scoring and it’s difficult to get it right on both sides.” REUTERS
