Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has been dealt a major injury boost as three key players close in on a return to action.
United step up preparations for next season
United have enjoyed a superb pre-season as they step up their preparations ahead of the competitive 2025/26 campaign.
The Red Devils have played three games, winning two and drawing one. Their most recent match ended in an emphatic 4-1 victory over Bournemouth at Soldier Field in Chicago.
While there is still plenty to work on, there have been evident signs of improvement and there is certainly cause to be optimistic.
Three players who were included in the travelling party but have yet to get a taste of action in pre-season are Andre Onana, Joshua Zirkzee and Lisandro Martinez.
Onana sustained a hamstring injury during pre-season training at Carrington. The expectation was that this issue would rule him out of pre-season and the early stages of the Premier League term. A report covered by The Peoples Person relayed that United were considering dipping into the market for a new goalkeeper after Onana’s setback.
Zirkzee has been managing a minor injury following his return from a hamstring strain, which he overcame in time to feature in the Europa League final loss to Tottenham Hotspur in May.
Meanwhile, Martinez has been sidelined since February, when he suffered a season-ending ACL injury.
Despite being unlikely to feature in the US, United opted to include the trio on the trip, believing their presence would benefit overall squad harmony and team-building.
Now, a positive triple injury update has been provided.
Onana, Zirkzee and Martinez close to returning
According to the Daily Mail, “Good news on the injury front for Ruben Amorim with Lisandro Martinez, Joshua Zirkzee and Andre Onana all back in light training at United’s base in Chicago.”
“Confidential understands that Martinez is stepping up his recovery at the Endeavor Health Performance Center. He has done some running on the grass and some ball work on his own, but isn’t ready to rejoin the main group yet.”
On Onana, the report notes that the Cameroonian has been “throwing himself around in training” but has been instructed that there should be no contact training.
The shot-stopper was expected to return once the Premier League was already underway but the Daily Mail explain, “Onana won’t play on tour but has an outside chance of returning for United’s final pre-season friendly against Fiorentina at Old Trafford next week, and should be available for the Premier League opener at home to Arsenal.”
Questions over his future persist but as it stands, he is set to continue as United’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Featured image Patrick McDermott via Getty Images
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Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
