Bournemouth have confirmed that Eli Junior Kroupi will be available for their Premier League trip to Manchester United this weekend, providing a significant boost for the visitors.
The French striker has been out of action since the summer after suffering a fractured metatarsal in pre-season training. Before the injury, he had attracted interest from several Premier League clubs, including Arsenal and Tottenham, but that attention faded following his surgery.
Kroupi set for comeback at Old Trafford
Kroupi is now expected to make his return at Old Trafford, with Bournemouth head coach Marco Rose confirming the plan. "The plan is to take him with us to Manchester and give him some minutes," Rose said.
His return is timely for Bournemouth, who have missed the forward's goal threat. Kroupi scored 13 league goals last season and has been sorely missed during his absence.
United under pressure ahead of clash
The news adds to the challenges facing Manchester United, where manager Michael Carrick is under growing pressure. Wednesday's Champions League defeat at Como extended United's winless run to seven matches, and Carrick is widely tipped for dismissal, though he remains in charge for this weekend's fixture.
Rose acknowledged that United's difficult situation could make them more dangerous opponents. "It should not affect us and our work," the German said. "I hear the voices and the noise around the club, but I don't know if it helps us because everyone in Manchester seems to know now what to do and how to do it."
"It's up to us to go there, be focused, bring our football onto the pitch and react well to situations. I think they're going to be angry, they're going to be intense. We have to face it, make an open game of it and, at the end, we want to win it," he added.
Rose also warned of the danger posed by a team with nothing to lose. "You always get to a point where you have nothing to lose any more, sometimes as a manager, as a club, as players. That's why it's always difficult," he said.
Bournemouth travel to Manchester having won their last three matches, while United will be desperate to end a seven-game winless streak.
