United Miss Key Players Ahead of Bournemouth Clash in Chicago

United Miss Key Players Ahead of Bournemouth Clash in Chicago

United Miss Key Players Ahead of Bournemouth Clash in Chicago

Manchester United’s pre-season tour in the United States has taken another twist, with several big names missing from training ahead of their clash against Bournemouth. Fans were left wondering after it was confirmed that Joshua Zirkzee, Noussair Mazraoui, and Andre Onana were all absent from Tuesday’s session in the sweltering heat of Chicago. The trio, who traveled with existing injuries, are being kept on separate rehabilitation programs, meaning they weren’t involved with the rest of the squad as they prepared for their second Premier League Summer Series match.

The absence of Onana, United’s first-choice goalkeeper, has sparked the most concern, though the club remains tight-lipped about the extent of his issue. Zirkzee and Mazraoui, who also arrived carrying knocks, have been focusing on their recovery rather than active match preparation. That said, Zirkzee has still been involved off the pitch — he and teammate Patrick Dorgu made an appearance at a fan event in the city on Monday, where Zirkzee even got to print his own United shirt.

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Adding to the list of players ruled out is Bryan Mbeumo, United’s new £65 million signing from Brentford. Mbeumo didn’t feature in the first friendly against West Ham either, having joined the squad later than the rest due to Brentford’s delayed pre-season start. Since arriving, he’s mostly been confined to gym work to safely build up his fitness. It’s been made clear by manager Ruben Amorim that Mbeumo won’t be part of the lineup against Bournemouth, though there’s hope he’ll be ready for United’s final US fixture against Everton on August 3.

Despite his current absence from the pitch, Mbeumo’s enthusiasm for his move has been made obvious. He spoke openly about why he chose Manchester United, citing the club’s ambition and the persuasive project outlined by Amorim. The winger said he’s hungry for the challenge and excited about the opportunity to play regularly at iconic venues like Old Trafford. According to him, the conversations with Amorim were straightforward and ambitious — “we are people who like winning,” he recalled Amorim saying — and that was enough to sell him on the vision.

So, as United gear up for their next test without a few key faces, the spotlight remains on the depth of the squad and how the newer players adapt. With the final game of the tour just around the corner, fans will be hoping to see Mbeumo make his debut sooner rather than later.

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