A couple of telephone calls over the next 24 hours is going to have a massive impact on Ruben Amorim’s plans for Manchester United’s game against Bournemouth on Monday.
United hope to hear either later on Friday whether Bryan Mbeumo, Noussair Mazraoui and Amad Diallo will be able to delay their departures for Africa Cup of Nations duty and feature against Andoni Iraola’s men.
Mazraoui would seem the least likely given Morocco are the host nation and play in the opening game against Comoros on 21 December.
With Matthijs de Ligt ruled out with a back injury and Harry Maguire still sidelined, if Mazraoui is not available, it would mean 20-year-old Leny Yoro lining up alongside 19-year-old Ayden Heaven in a very inexperienced defence given the only other options are Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez, who are both left-footed.
Cameroon and Ivory Coast do not play until 24 December, so it seems more likely there will be flexibility around Mbeumo and Amad.
However, nothing can be taken for granted – and with De Ligt and Maguire’s return unclear, the squad for the trip to Aston Villa on 21 December will be a bit light on experience.
