Manchester United defensive duo Matthijs de Ligt (back) and Harry Maguire (hamstring) are still missing for Monday’s clash with Bournemouth.
Speaking at Friday’s press conference, Ruben Amorim countered this with some slight optimism over month-long absentee Benjamin Sesko (knee), despite some food posioning.
- READ MORE: Press conferences for Gameweek 16
“Maguire is out, de Ligt is out. Ben [Sesko] we have to see. 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.” – Ruben Amorim
“I think he has something in his back, I don’t know for sure. Sometimes you see it is not a big injury because he finished the game quite well against Crystal Palace but he has some pain. Sometimes you think it is going to be solved during this week, but sometimes he feels a little bit pain, so we have to be careful with that.” – Ruben Amorim on Matthijs de Ligt
Incredibly, Man United’s boss still doesn’t have a departure date for the three players, Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui, who are away to the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Most Premier League players will be able to contest their Gameweek 16 fixtures before leaving for Morocco but, with the Red Devils not playing until Monday night, there is a bit more uncertainty.
“We are still in conversation with the national teams. The game is just Monday. They are here, they are training, and we are trying to prepare all the scenarios to prepare the game.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be the same situation [for all three, with Mazraoui’s Morocco playing earlier]. It depends on the games, every international team has their ideas about when they want the players. I expect today 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.” – Ruben Amorim on his AFCON-bound trio
Does this make Mbeumo an unexpected doubt for the match at Old Trafford?
