Man Utd ‘set to lose Andre Onana’ for up to seven games in new blow to Ten Hag

Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United selection headache is set to worsen with Andre Onana potentially missing up to seven games.

Onana has had a difficult start to life at Old Trafford after replacing long-serving goalkeeper David de Gea in the summer. Despite that rude awakening, Onana was United's standout player in their defeat to Manchester City, emerging from the game with huge credit.

However, the divisive keeper now looks set to miss up to seven games in January after he reportedly agreed to go back on his international football snub and play in the African Cup of Nations. It would leave United with Tom Heaton and Altay Bayindir- who is yet to appear for the club – as the only first-team stoppers.

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Onana previously quit international football following last year’s World Cup after he was sent home early from Qatar following a falling out with manager Rigobert Song. But, according to I News, he agreed to return for the final AFCON qualifier against Burundi in September and a friendly against Senegal earlier this month after pressure from the government and Cameroonian FA.

It’s reported that Onana believed that in order to kickstart his career at Old Trafford following a mistake-ridden beginning, he needed to remain at the club in January.

Do you think Andre Onana should play for Cameroon in AFCON? Let us know in the comments section.

However, it’s said that a source close to the player claimed he changed his mind and is planning on playing in the tournament which begins in the Ivory Coast on January, 13, with the final to be playing on February, 11. The source claimed that: “At the moment he plans to play in every game he is called up for.”

Should Onana play in the AFCON and Cameroon go all the way to the final, he could miss four Premier League games – including Tottenham Hotspur, Wolves, West Ham and Aston Villa, two FA Cup ties and a possible Carabao Cup semi-final should United reach that stage.

His absence would leave Heaton and Bayindir as the club’s only senior goalkeepers. While rumours continue to be rife regarding a possible dramatic U-turn which could see De Gea return to the club just months after being shunned by the Dutchman.

Ten Hag could also lose Moroccan Sofyan Amrabat, Ivorian Amad Diallo and Tunisian Hannibal Mejbri during AFCON.

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