Manchester United look likely to remain without Benjamin Sesko, Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire for their Premier League clash with Bournemouth.
All three players were absent from training at Carrington on Thursday as Ruben Amorim’s side stepped up preparations for another Monday night contest at Old Trafford, though Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo all took part amid ongoing confusion over whether or not they will be available to play one final club game before departing for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Striker Sesko has been sidelined for more than a month now after suffering a knee injury during United’s dramatic 2-2 draw away at Tottenham on November 8.
Amorim said afterwards that the Slovenian international would be out for a “few weeks”, though excitement over an earlier-than-expected return for Sesko was sparked this week after his agent Elvis Basanovic said: “Benjamin is feeling very well. His rehabilitation is progressing according to plan.
“It’s hard to say precisely when he will return. That will be up to the medical staff and the manager, but I think we’ll see him back on the pitch very soon. Maybe even sooner than expected.”
Sesko’s absence initially led to a run in the team for the previously little-used Joshua Zirkzee, though Amorim deployed Matheus Cunha as the central figure in attack for Monday’s 4-1 demolition of rock-bottom Wolves at Molineux, supported by Mount and Mbeumo.
That seems unlikely to change against Bournemouth, if Mbeumo is indeed available for a game that takes place on the same (delayed) date as clubs have to release players for AFCON in Morocco.
Maguire has been out with a hamstring injury since the same Spurs game in which Sesko was hurt, while De Ligt picked up an unspecified knock before the recent draw with West Ham and also sat out the win at Wolves despite being expected to return.
Amorim surprisingly started teenager Ayden Heaven in defence once more at Molineux despite his struggles against West Ham that saw him booked and taken off at half-time, though the likes of Leny Yoro and the fit-again Lisandro Martinez will now be pushing to come in.
Predicted Manchester United XI (3-4-2-1): Lammens; Mazraoui, Yoro, Shaw; Amad, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dalot; Mbeumo, Mount; Cunha
Injured: Sesko, Maguire
Doubt: De Ligt
Time and date: 8pm GMT on Monday December 15, 2025
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester
How to watch: Sky Sports
