RUBEN AMORIM is optimistic Manchester United will keep their Africa Cup of Nations participants for one more game against Bournemouth next week.
United are still in dialogue with federations from Morocco, Cameroon and the Ivory Coast about retaining Noussair Mazraoui, Bryan Mbeumo and Amad for the visit of Bournemouth on December 15.
Host nation Morocco play their first game on December 21 while Mbeumo and Amad are set to figure for their sides on Christmas Eve.
United have a week to prepare for the Bournemouth match but there is still on clarification on whether they will retain their three African players.
However, Amorim said it was a “good sign” that United are still in conversation with the relevant associations.
“The club is talking with the national teams,” Amorim said. “Let’s wait for the middle of the week.
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“I don’t know for sure, but we are doing our job and the national teams are talking with us and that is a good sign.”
Amorim lavished praise on Mason Mount, who scored his third goal of the season in United’s 4-1 win at Wolves.
Mount returned to the starting XI having dropped to the bench for the draw with West Ham last week and he effectively ended the contest with a 62nd-minute volley.
The 26-year-old has now scored more Premier League goals for United this season than in his previous two seasons.
Mount joined United in a £60million deal in 2023 but was viewed as a central midfielder. Under Amorim, he has slotted into the front three in his 3-4-2-1 system – a role he often occupied at Chelsea.
“If you compare the past that he had in Chelsea, then he has a great quality,” Amorim enthused.
“He can defend, he can attack, it’s really the quality that when he touched the ball is really good.
“So it’s not a surprise for me, but of course, we need to take care of him.
“Sometimes you need to protect them in training in games, but when you build, that is going to happen. The the same thing with Luke Shaw.
“So he’s going to build that and it’s going to be really important for our club.”
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