Manchester United are preparing for their third pre-season clash of the summer with a game against Bournemouth in the Premier League Summer Series.
Following a 2-1 victory over West Ham to begin their U.S. tour, Manchester United now turn their attention to their next pre-season challenge against Bournemouth in the Premier League Summer Series.
Bruno Fernandes stole the spotlight in the opener, netting both goals to secure the win for Ruben Amorim’s side. The result marked a step forward after their goalless draw with Leeds in Sweden.
With momentum gathering and match fitness on the rise, United will be looking to build on their progress when they face Andoni Iraola’s team in their second game of the tournament.
This will be Bournemouth’s fourth pre-season fixture, so Amorim’s side will be expecting a tough test as both sides approach full fitness.
Amazing star absent from United training
Ahead of the game, United hosted an open training session at the training ground in Chicago and there were several players absent.
Joshua Zirkzee, André Onana and Lisandro Martínez were not involved, while the “amazing” Noussair Mazraoui was also not spotted after missing the last game with a knock.
All four are unlikely to play in this game and even though Bryan Mbeumo was training with the team, it looks like this game comes too early for him too.
“He’s not going to play the next one, we hope to have Bryan in the last game [of the US tour], he’s training now so we’ll see,” Amorim said on the weekend.
It doesn’t seem like any of the injured players have serious problems and they are likely being treated carefully by Amorim and his staff.
Fans eager to see Kone play
One player many fans are eager to see play in young midfielder Sekou Kone, who is yet to appear in pre-season despite being on the bench against Leeds and West Ham.
With reports stating that he is no longer set to leave the club on loan this season, it seems like Amorim should give him a chance to impress in at least one of these pre-season fixtures.
You would imagine that the Fiorentina clash at Old Trafford will be a team very similar to what Amorim will use in the opening day of the Premier League against Arsenal a week later.
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That leaves the games against Bournemouth and Everton as the only real chances for young talent to prove themselves to Amorim.
Of course, they are getting opportunities on the training ground on a weekly basis but it seems like many fans are hoping that Kone receives minutes in these next games.
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