Manchester United are bracing for a potential double setback ahead of the Manchester derby on Saturday, January 17, with two key players at risk of missing the clash due to Africa Cup of Nations commitments. Amad and Noussair Mazraoui are the only Red Devils stars still participating in the tournament, following Bryan Mbeumo's Cameroon exit at the hands of Mazraoui's Morocco.
Amad is set to play for Ivory Coast against Egypt on Saturday evening. Should the Ivorians win, they will advance to a semi-final against Senegal on January 14, just three days before the derby. This raises serious doubts over his availability for the match against Manchester City. Meanwhile, City could see Omar Marmoush return if Egypt are knocked out, further compounding United's concerns.
United have sorely missed Amad's creativity in recent weeks, drawing their last three matches. However, there is some positive news: Bruno Fernandes has returned from injury, and Mbeumo should be back in the squad for the City match. Additionally, centre-back Harry Maguire, who was on the bench midweek against Burnley, could make his first appearance since early November.
Interim boss Darren Fletcher provided updates on Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo in his pre-match press conference. “He's been out for a while so we will be looking at his load and things like that,” Fletcher said of Maguire. “A decision has not been made on his minutes, but when you see the players coming back the other night, you have seen Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo, Bruno Fernandes, there has to be some understanding that their first minutes may have to be careful with that process to build back in.”
On Mainoo, who has made just one start this campaign amid speculation over his future, Fletcher added: “He seems in a good place. Kobbie doesn't give you much so you wouldn't know if he was in a good place or not. He's like that, it's just his natural way.”
