Manchester United’s midfield has been severely depleted due to injuries while Ruben Amorim is far from pleased with a few options at his disposal.
Kobbie Mainoo is reportedly sidelined until April, while Toby Collyer and Mason Mount are both out injured with no timeline for their return.
The situation was so dire that the head coach has been forced to hand back-to-back starts to Casemiro, who expectedly struggled to deal with the Portuguese’s intense demands.
Christian Eriksen is also back after missing the Tottenham Hotspur game but remained an unused substitute against Everton with the Dane no longer having the legs to cope with the Premier League.
Kone was part of the last two matchday squads
Which is why the Portuguese tactician had called up the likes of Jack Moorhouse, Jack Fletcher and Sekou Kone to the matchday squad ahead of the Spurs game.
While Moorhouse and Fletcher subsequently dropped back down to play for the academy last weekend, the Malian remained as part of the matchday squad during the club’s visit to Goodison Park.
As recently relayed by The Peoples Person, the 19-year-old has impressed Amorim during training with the former Sporting CP boss mulling over handing the midfield talent his debut before the season concludes.
But it will not be coming on Wednesday as per The Daily Mail reporter Nathan Salt who has revealed that Kone has been called up for United U21s’ National League Cup quarter-final encounter away to Sutton United.
New: Sekou Kone is with Manchester United’s U21s away to Sutton United in the National League Cup quarter-finals tonight.
Almost certainly puts paid to any bench involvement with first team against Ipswich tomorrow night #mufc
— Nathan Salt (@NathSalt1) February 25, 2025
He has started the game as well which means he is unlikely to be on the bench against Ipswich Town at Old Trafford.
“Sekou Kone is with Manchester United’s U21s away to Sutton United in the National League Cup quarter-finals tonight.
Playing for the U21s today
“Almost certainly puts paid to any bench involvement with first team against Ipswich tomorrow night,” Salt wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Amorim had suggested that no squad changes are expected for the game against the Tractor Boys but it is likely that he meant for the senior stars. Whether Kone still gets included despite an outing on Tuesday remains to be seen.
The 19-year-old has been restricted to six appearances for the United reserves before today due to an injury but he has slowly adapted to life in Manchester.
He was registered as part of United’s Premier League squad when he first arrived and had trained with the first-team when Erik ten Hag was in charge as well. It looks like a matter of time before fans see him in the first team under Amorim.
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Ayantan Chowdhury
Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
