Manchester United will have goalkeeper Andre Onana available for its FA Cup third-round match against Wigan Athletic, manager Erik ten Hag said on Thursday, following talks to delay his departure to the Africa Cup of Nations.
United play third-tier Wigan on Monday and Cameroon have a friendly scheduled for Tuesday against Zambia before they kick off the tournament against Guinea on January 15.
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“We’re talking with the Cameroon federation, it was an issue during the talks with Andre when he came in here (in July from Inter Milan),” Ten Hag told reporters. “It’s constructive.”
United, languishing eighth in the Premier League nine points adrift of the top four, hosts fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur on January 14.
“I don’t know yet (if Onana will be available for Spurs) but he will be here for the game against Wigan,” Ten Hag said.
United had a roller-coaster festive period, beating Aston Villa 3-2 with a stunning comeback before a meek 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest that kept the pressure on Ten Hag following the takeover of United by Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS group.
Ten Hag met Ratcliffe for the first time.
“We had a long meeting, so many hours we sit together, on many issues we were on the same page, very positive from both sides,” the manager said.
“I can say that it was a very constructive meeting and we’re looking forward to working with each other.”
Ten Hag said it was too early to expect much change to the team under the new ownership.
“We have to let it settle down, they’re just coming in, introducing themselves,” he said. “They have good ideas, we have to see what we can integrate. In togetherness we will work, but after one day you can’t tell that.
“They have given me a few (of their ideas), we have had our debates about strategies and I think we will come together.”
United has triggered options on contract extensions for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof and Hannibal Mejbri, Ten Hag said, adding that they were “talking with” Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial.
United, eliminated from Europe and the League Cup, has won the 12 FA Cup 12 times, most recently in 2016.
