Manchester United have been handed an injury update regarding André Onana after the goalkeeper was hit with a hamstring injury in pre-season training.
Rúben Amorim’s squad returned to Carrington on Monday as Manchester United began their preparations for the 2025/26 season.
Matheus Cunha, who arrived earlier this summer, was among those present on the first day of training, alongside Joshua Zirkzee, Mason Mount, and others.
Several senior players, including Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, returned to training on Thursday after being given extended time off following their involvement in international fixtures.
United will kick off their pre-season tour on 19 July with a match against Leeds United in Sweden, before heading to the United States for games against Bournemouth, West Ham, and Everton.
They’ll wrap up pre-season with a home fixture against Fiorentina at Old Trafford the weekend before the new Premier League season gets underway, with Arsenal visiting on Sunday, 17 August.
United dealt fresh Onana update
Earlier this week, news broke that goalkeeper André Onana had suffered a hamstring injury during the opening days of pre-season training.
It was later revealed that he has torn his hamstring and will be out for around six to eight weeks, with Amorim weighing up the possibility of signing a new goalkeeper.
The Manchester Evening News have now provided a fresh update. The report states that Onana has responded well to his initial treatment, and although he will not play, he will travel with the squad to the United States later this month.
There has been significant speculation surrounding Onana’s long-term future in the first team, and his injury could provide the perfect chance for some of United’s fringe goalkeepers to impress.
A perfect chance for Vitek to make his mark
After Onana, Altay Bayındır is United’s clear second choice in goal, having made eight appearances under the Portuguese boss. However, Academy goalkeeper Radek Vitek, who spent last season on loan at Blau-Weiss Linz in Austria, could step up instead.
Vitek caught the eye of United fans during last year’s pre-season, and it seems he’s finally set to feature under Amorim, who likely wasn’t too familiar with him before the summer began.
Having taken charge midway through last season, Amorim wouldn’t have had much time to assess players out on loan. But now, he’s getting a proper look at what Vitek can bring to the table.
It’s a big opportunity for the Czech goalkeeper, who could not only feature against Leeds but also throughout United’s tour of the United States. According to The Telegraph, he’s ‘highly regarded’ within the club.
If Vitek impresses in the coming pre-season matches, he might just persuade Amorim to hand him a chance in competitive fixtures next month.
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