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Erik ten Hag has confirmed goalkeeper Andre Onana will return to Previous Trafford by Thursday this week.
The 27-year-old has been representing Cameroon on the 2024 African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. It’s been removed from a constructive expertise for the goalkeeper, nevertheless.
Onana was dropped for 3 of Cameroon’s 4 video games on the match. The one sport he did play – the second group stage match in opposition to Senegal – the Indomitable Lions fell to a disappointing 3-1 defeat.
Lengthy-standing points with Samuel Eto’o, the President of the Cameroonian FA, and supervisor Rigobert Tune are believed to have led to this exclusion from the beginning eleven. In Onana’s place, Tune chosen Fabrice Ondoa – Onana’s cousin and a goalkeeper for Nimes Olympique, a 3rd division French aspect.
Onana had deliberate to delay his arrival to the match in an effort to play within the essential Premier League match in opposition to Tottenham Hotspur. This determination led to the goalkeeper touching down within the Ivory Coast the morning of Cameroon’s opening sport in opposition to Gambia, after an extended and draining journey.
It was a alternative the 27-year-old was broadly criticised for by pundits and followers on the match. Reportedly, Onana opted to remain so long as doable in Manchester to keep away from lacking an vital sport, but in addition out of concern his substitute – Altay Bayindir – might thrive in his absence.
Bayindir made his debut for United yesterday, following his transfer from Fenerbahce in the summertime.
The Turkish worldwide produced a constructive, albeit considerably shaky, efficiency in opposition to Newport County. A number of hair-raising moments with distribution have been buttressed by quite a few good saves and claims from crosses.
Although United would concede two objectives to the League Two aspect, neither have been Bayindir’s fault.
Talking after the match, Ten Hag praised his quantity two goalkeeper’s “composed” efficiency. “I believe it was a composed debut,” Ten Hag mentioned at Rodney Parade. “Some good saves, so very composed. I believe, general, he could be completely satisfied.”
The Dutchman did affirm Onana “might be again for Thursday”, nevertheless.
United are set to renew their Premier League marketing campaign with a visit to the Molineux Stadium to play Wolverhampton Wanderers on this present day. Whether or not Ten Hag was indicating Onana can be again for the sport or just again in coaching is one other story.
Nevertheless, the Dutch supervisor did reveal that, “Perhaps, for the primary time so long as I used to be supervisor, I can choose a group from the squad that’s in all probability the strongest right here,” indicating the previous.
