Manchester United will be without four key players for the trip to Aston Villa following their 4-4 draw with Bournemouth, with Casemiro suspended and three stars on AFCON duty
Casemiro is suspended after his yellow card against Bournemouth(Image: Getty Images)
Ruben Amorim’s woes continued on Monday night as wasteful Manchester United allowed Bournemouth to claim a point at Old Trafford. United had 25 shots to their opponents’ 14 and led three times but the game ended in a 4-4 draw after Eli Junior Kroupi’s late equaliser.
Next up for the Red Devils is a trip to Aston Villa, and Amorim already knew he would be without three players due to the Africa Cup of Nations. Bryan Mbeumo and Amad both played against Bournemouth, though Noussair Mazraoui didn’t, and all three will be away with their national sides.
Not only that, but Casemiro will be unavailable on Sunday. The Brazilian will serve a suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards, having picked up a booking for a foul on Marcus Tavernier.
To make matters worse, the card was for bringing Tavernier down as he threatened to run through on goal, only for the midfielder to score from the resulting free-kick anyway. It’s Casemiro’s second ban of the campaign, with the first arriving when he was sent off against Chelsea.
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That Tavernier goal was enough to leave United 3-2 down at Old Trafford early in the second half. Amad and Casemiro himself both scored for the hosts, only for Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson to equalise before Tavernier’s free-kick.
Bruno Fernandes managed to equalise for United with a free-kick in the 77th minute, before Matheus Cunha put United ahead a few minutes later. It wasn’t enough, though, with Kroupi making it 4-4 and both sides having chances for a fifth.
Bryan Mbeumo is on his way to the Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Casemiro’s yellow card his seventh in the league this season but his fifth individual caution not including the two yellows he received in the win over Chelsea in September. The former Real Madrid man will now serve a one-match ban, which means he will be absent for the away game at Villa Park this weekend.
United will be without the services their AFCON trio, though the extent of their absences will depend on how far their national sides progress in the competition. In addition to this. Mazraoui’s Morocco are the hosts, while Amad’s Cote d’Ivoire are reigning champions and go up against Mbeumo’s Cameroon in the group stages.
Amorim was unable to select Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt for the Bournemouth match due to injury, though Benjamin Sesko was involved after a recent injury absence of his own. Lisandro Martinez was also involved as he continued his comeback after missing several months of action.
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