Man United hopeful Andre Onana will be fit to start at Leicester despite availability doubts and speculation academy goalkeeper would make his senior debut
Andre Onana is likely to play in goal for Manchester United at Leicester City despite doubts over his availability due to illness.
There was speculation that young Northern Irishman Dermot Mee is in line to make his senior debut at the King Power Stadium after Onana missed training at Carrington on Saturday.
But Mail Sport understands that Onana’s condition has improved and it’s hoped that he will be passed fit for the Premier League clash on Sunday evening with Mee as back-up on the bench.
The Cameroon international is the only senior keeper available to head coach Ruben Amorim with Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton missing since the beginning of February due to injury.
Mee, 22, is one of a number of youth-team keepers who have been on the bench in the last nine games including Elyh Harrison, Hubert Graczyk and William Murdock.
Onana has been in good form recently, bouncing back from an error against Ipswich to produce impressive performances in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal last weekend and both legs of the Europa League last-16 win over Real Sociedad.
Manchester United are hopeful Andre Onana will be fit to play against Leicester tonight
Reports indicated academy goalkeeper Dermot Mee would make his senior debut for the club
Ruben Amorim still has several players out of action but Onana’s condition has improved
Amorim still has a number of players out of action but Mason Mount could return to the squad against Leicester for the first time since he was injured in the Manchester derby in December.
Manuel Ugarte was back on the bench in Thursday’s second leg against Sociedad, and Harry Maguire may also be available against his old club after a three-match absence. However, Patrick Dorgu – who was outstanding against Sociedad – is serving the final game of a three-match-ban.
‘Mason Mount is going to return really slowly,’ said the United boss. ‘We need players like him. I think he will be on the bench, we will see. We need him and every player.
‘If he is fit, I will take him. He cannot play too many minutes, but just five minutes of Mason Mount is perfect.
‘With different competitions, we have to rotate because we are risking a little bit. For example, Casemiro was so tired (after Sociedad) and we didn’t want to risk Ugarte.
‘Kobbie (Mainoo) maybe will return in a few weeks, I am not sure. Harry Maguire we tried not to risk. We will see for Sunday.’
