Mbaye returns to Manchester United for the clash against Manchester City but will miss the FA Cup! Fletcher hints that young Messi won't participate.

Manchester United's £71 million winger Mbaye has finished his Africa Cup of Nations journey as Cameroon was defeated 0-2 by host Morocco in the quarterfinal "Red Devils Derby." Consequently, Mazraoui advances in the quest for the championship, while Mbaye prepares to return to England.

This means Mbaye can take part in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford next weekend, while Mazraoui is expected to be absent. With the team's top scorer back, the interim United manager will surely be pleased—whether it's Solskjaer or Carrick, their first game in charge is a big showdown against Manchester City.

During the second half of the Morocco vs. Cameroon match, Manchester United might have had some concerns as Mbaye appeared injured after a challenge, limping off the field. Fortunately, he returned to finish the game. However, he couldn't change the outcome, and Mazraoui was the one smiling in the end. After Morocco's win, they will face either Nigeria or Algeria in Wednesday's semifinal, aiming to progress further.

Manchester United’s three Africa Cup of Nations players—Mbaye, Mazraoui, and Amad Diallo—have all missed five matches so far. Amad’s Ivory Coast will play Egypt in the quarterfinal on Saturday. If they lose, the £40 million winger will also be available for the Manchester City match.

However, all three will continue to miss Sunday’s FA Cup third-round match against Brighton. Although Mbaye is out of the tournament, there are only two days between matches, and he faces a long journey back to England, making participation impossible. Interim coach Fletcher confirmed before the game that neither Mbaye nor Mazraoui would feature in the FA Cup, regardless of who returns first.

“I don’t think they can play; the timing is too tight. Brian (Mbaye) and Nouss (Mazraoui) won’t be available, and no new players will join the squad,” Fletcher said. “So, the lineup for this match will be the same as the one that faced Burnley.”

Additionally, center-back De Ligt remains sidelined due to a back injury. But Maguire, who has been out for two months, has returned. Fletcher stated, “He rested for a while, so we need to reassess his training load. No final decision yet, but you all saw he was included in the squad the day before yesterday.”

Regarding other United players recently returning from injury, Fletcher explained, “You’ve seen Mason (Mount), Kobe (Meno), and Bruno (Fernandes) already taking part in matches. They’ve just come back to the pitch, so it’s understandable how they perform. They still need to readjust to the game’s pace and might need to be a bit cautious. Harry (Maguire) is in a similar situation this weekend.”

If United’s lineup remains the same as against Burnley, then the English media’s hype about 15-year-old “Little Messi” Gabriel making his debut won’t materialize. However, Fletcher disagrees with former coach Ruben Amorim’s view that United’s youth players lack ability and attitude, emphasizing his strong trust in the academy. As the U18 Red Devils coach, his perspective is well-founded.

Speaking about United’s youth system, Fletcher praised it highly: “Historically, the club has been built on its academy system, which is excellent. Our achievements speak for themselves; such success is hard to surpass in the history of clubs worldwide. We have many outstanding young players and talented prospects. I see they are hardworking and humble—though not perfect because they are still young and have a lot to learn and master.”

Fletcher strongly supports United’s rising academy star Meno: “Kobe seems to be in good form. He doesn’t like to express himself openly, so it’s hard to read him—that’s just his personality. But I know him well; we’ve known each other for a long time. I’ve spoken with him several times, and he’s doing well. I understand Kobe, and I believe he understands me. He knows Travis Binnion, so he’s adapting well to the current environment. He’s in good shape and training well. As I said before, Kobe is someone whose thoughts are difficult to predict.”

He believes young players should be treated with patience: “I think society sometimes demands too much and expects too much from young people. I’m not criticizing anyone; this is just my personal opinion. We should let them learn and grow, helping them understand their mistakes. They will do disappointing things, but if coaches, families, and first-team players guide them properly, over time, everyone plays their part, and they can be developed into Manchester United players and become part of the club. That is our duty and mission.”

Fletcher reiterated: “I can only say that in my interactions with players, whether one-on-one or within the entire academy system, the kids I meet are hardworking, honest, eager to learn, and very talented. Our academy is full of gifted individuals, and I hope they can be like Shay (Leacy), who showed his ability in the Burnley match and nearly scored a world-class goal.”

The FA Cup remains Manchester United’s last chance for silverware this season, and Fletcher knows losing is not an option. “This is a very important match, and Manchester United always aims to win trophies. In recent years, we have achieved good results, winning the FA Cup two years ago but also losing in the final. It is indeed a prestigious competition. The first trophy I won as a player was the FA Cup. Therefore, this competition means a lot to me. It’s a major title, and we should strive hard to win it and do everything possible to lift the trophy.”