Erik ten Hag gets his wish after Man Utd talks involving Andre Onana

966     0
Erik ten Hag gets his wish after Man Utd talks involving Andre Onana
Erik ten Hag gets his wish after Man Utd talks involving Andre Onana

Manchester United will have Andre Onana available when they host Tottenham a week on Sunday.

The Red Devils welcome their Premier League rivals to Old Trafford on January 14 and were hopeful they could still have their No 1 around, despite Cameroon beginning their Africa Cup of Nations campaign the day later, with talks ending in a favourable outcome for Erik ten Hag.

FIFA rules state that the club were obliged to release him for international duty on January 1, but they will keep him for an extra fortnight. It leaves Onana with a tight turnaround as he jets straight off to the Ivory Coast, where the tournament is being held.

The Daily Mail reports that Cameroon, who begin their campaign against Guinea, were understanding towards United's situation as Onana had retired from international football when they signed him, only for the goalkeeper to reverse his decision in September.

Depending on how far Cameroon go in AFCON, Onana could yet return having not missed a single game, with United not next in actual until February 1 due to the winter break. But that would require an early exit from one of the favourites for the tournament and, in his absence, Altay Bayindir will deputise having arrived in the summer.

Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash eiqrkihrieeinvMarcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash

Onana has by no means been a roaring success since his switch from Inter Milan. Despite his obvious ability with the ball at his feet, basic errors have led directly to goals as United endure one of their worst seasons in decades.

Erik ten Hag gets his wish after Man Utd talks involving Andre OnanaAndre Onana will play for Man Utd 24 hours before heading off to AFCON (Getty Images)

Last month Ten Hag defended his goalkeeper, using stats to underline his impressive impact. "If you analyse it well then you see he is the second-best goalkeeper in the Premier League based on stats, so his expected defending goals is the second best in the Premier League," he said.

"He's doing well. Also he knows that in the Champions League he makes some mistakes but all over you see the first five months he is doing particularly well." United have so far conceded 27 goals in their 20 league games with Onana an ever present in between the sticks.

Samuel Meade

Manchester United FC, Africa Cup of Nations, Champions League, Premier League, Ivory Coast Inc., Internazionale Milano F.C., FIFA, WhatsApp

Read more similar news:

01.02.2023, 00:56 • Sport
Man Utd deadline day live updates as Sabitzer completes loan move
01.02.2023, 04:00 • Sport
Ten Hag has dream Man Utd line up as last-gasp January transfers are secured
01.02.2023, 05:30 • Sport
Man Utd finally listen to Ralf Rangnick after ignoring his six-man transfer plan
01.02.2023, 05:45 • Sport
Man Utd lose seven players and sign three as January transfer window closes
01.02.2023, 06:00 • Sport
Man Utd's January transfer window winners and losers as 'new Scholes' makes exit
01.02.2023, 06:47 • Sport
Marcel Sabitzer opens up on frantic deadline day dash to join Man Utd
01.02.2023, 07:30 • Sport
New Man Utd signing Marcel Sabitzer had trial so bad his agent "apologised"
01.02.2023, 07:36 • Sport
Rio Ferdinand delivers verdict on Marcel Sabitzer transfer with no hesitation
01.02.2023, 08:00 • Sport
Man Utd predicted line-up vs Nottingham Forest as Ten Hag eyes Carabao Cup final
01.02.2023, 09:26 • Sport
Full list of Premier League's biggest transfers as Enzo Fernandez smashes record