Manchester, 13 December (H.S.): Manchester United manager Rúben Amorim confirmed on Friday that his team is preparing for multiple scenarios ahead of their upcoming Premier League home fixture against Bournemouth on Monday, as the club remains uncertain over the availability of Bryan Mbeumo, Noussair Mazraoui, and Amad Diallo.

All three players are expected to join their respective national sides for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which runs from December 21 to January 18. Mbeumo represents Cameroon, Mazraoui plays for Morocco, and Diallo features for Ivory Coast.

The mandatory release date for AFCON players is Monday, leaving United unsure whether the trio will be available for selection or depart early to fulfill international duties.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Amorim said, “We are still in talks with the national teams. The match is on Monday, the players are here and training, and we are preparing for every possible situation. It’s a bit frustrating, but also unpredictable in a positive way — nobody knows who will play, and that keeps things competitive. We have the depth to handle any scenario.”

He added, “Every national team has its own policy on when to call up players. I hope we’ll have clarity today or tomorrow, but we’ll wait until the last moment to choose the best possible lineup.”

Meanwhile, injuries continue to trouble United. Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt remain sidelined, while there are doubts over the fitness of striker Benjamin Šeško, who has missed the last four games. The 22-year-old Slovenian, signed for €76.5 million this season, has been out since sustaining a knee injury during the 2–2 draw against Tottenham in November.

Amorim revealed, “We’ll see if Šeško is ready. He’s also been dealing with food poisoning, but we still have two more training sessions before the match.”After 15 matches, Manchester United sit sixth in the Premier League table with 25 points, while Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth occupy 13th place with 20 points.

Amorim praised Bournemouth for their dynamic style, saying, “They’re a top side with an excellent manager and talented players. I don’t just look at their results — I watch how they play against every opponent. They press aggressively and move the ball quickly. It’ll be a tough test, but we must win, especially at home.”

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar