Good news for Man Utd as André Onana return date fixed

Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana is aiming to make his comeback from a hamstring injury in time for the club’s Premier League opener against Arsenal at Old Trafford on August 17.

The Cameroon international picked up the injury during training ahead of United’s pre-season tour of the United States and has yet to feature in any of the club’s summer friendlies.

According to the Manchester Evening News, Onana will also miss this weekend’s friendly against Fiorentina. Still, the medical team remains optimistic he will be ready for the high-profile clash with Arsenal.

The 29-year-old’s absence has been felt, with backup goalkeeper Altay Bayindir struggling to impress in pre-season matches against Leeds United, Bournemouth, Everton, and West Ham.

The form of the Turkish shot-stopper has heightened concerns among fans about United’s goalkeeping stability heading into the new campaign.

Since arriving from Inter Milan in 2023 for £47.2 million ($63.5m), Onana has faced mixed fortunes, with several high-profile errors overshadowing flashes of his shot-stopping quality.

However, reports suggest he maintains a strong working relationship with manager Ruben Amorim, who indicated earlier this summer that he wanted to keep faith in the former Inter star.

Bayindir is expected to start United’s final pre-season fixture against Fiorentina on Saturday. Still, if Onana proves his fitness, Amorim is likely to restore him as the first choice for the season opener.