Shesko may still miss out due to food poisoning! Amrabat frustrated, uncertain if three African Cup players can participate

Manchester United’s €85 million striker Benjamin Sesko has healed from his knee injury, yet the Slovenian international, who was scheduled to return next week, might need to postpone his comeback because of food poisoning. Additionally, coach Rúben Amorim still does not know if the three African Cup internationals will be able to play in Monday’s home Premier League match against Bournemouth, causing him considerable frustration.

Sesko has been sidelined since November 8 due to a knee injury sustained in the match against Tottenham and was expected to return this round. However, the 23-year-old forward did not train on Thursday and will undergo further assessment before the game, making his participation unlikely.

Amorim explained at the pre-match press conference: “Regarding Benjamin (Sesko), we need to wait and see before confirming if he can play. He is showing symptoms of food poisoning, so our medical staff need to monitor him further. We will wait and see; there are still two days of training left.”

Manchester United defenders De Ligt and Harry Maguire are confirmed to be out, having missed the previous two matches. Maguire was injured at the same time as Sesko, while De Ligt encountered issues before the West Ham game.

Amorim said: “Both players are still unable to train. De Ligt has a back problem, which sometimes isn’t a serious injury. Two weeks ago, he performed well against Crystal Palace, but although the injury isn’t severe, he still experiences pain that prevents him from playing. You have to be cautious.”

Like Sesko, Amorim is uncertain whether the three African Cup players—Mbemou, Amad Diallo, and Mazraoui—will feature against Bournemouth. They are set to travel to Morocco next week to prepare for the tournament. The exact day they leave is crucial because the United-Bournemouth game is on Monday evening, which is also the FIFA deadline for African Cup players to leave their clubs.

On Thursday, these three United players took part in pre-match training to prepare for Monday’s game, but Amorim stated that their availability will only be confirmed on Saturday. This uncertainty frustrates the Red Devils’ coach, as he cannot finalize his starting lineup for practice. Mbemou, Amad, and Mazraoui have all recently been starters. Of course, he hopes this uncertainty also affects Bournemouth, who similarly cannot prepare specifically.

Amorim said: “We are still communicating with the national teams. Our league match is on Monday, and the players are training here, but we have to prepare for all possible scenarios. It’s frustrating, but at the same time, the opposition doesn’t know who we will field either. We have players who can handle any situation, and within a week, we can prepare strategies for different circumstances.”

He added: “I don’t know if the situation will repeat itself; it depends on the specific matches. Each national team has its own plan for when they want their players back. I expect to make a decision today or tomorrow. But we will wait until the last moment to select the best squad for the match.”

Mazraoui’s Morocco is hosting this year’s African Cup and will play the opening match next Sunday against Comoros. Mbemou’s Cameroon and Amad’s Ivory Coast are in the same group and will play their first games on Christmas Eve.

Bournemouth has been a recent thorn in Manchester United’s side, winning 3-0 in their last two visits to Old Trafford and remaining unbeaten in four matches against the Red Devils. However, the “Cherries” are currently in a poor run, having failed to win in six games. Amorim praised their coach, Andoni Iraola, a Spaniard who was once considered a potential replacement for Amorim during a crisis. Amorim also mentioned that Bournemouth has a special player, unnamed but likely winger Antoine Semenyo, who United have been rumored to target.

Amorim stated: “A strong team, an excellent coach, and a very special player. I don’t focus on Bournemouth’s results but rather on how they perform against each opponent. Their attacking intensity is high, and their style is very direct. Their offensive tactics are diverse, which means we must prepare extensively. I believe it will be a very tough Premier League match, but we must win, especially at home. That is our goal.”