{"id":356601,"date":"2025-12-20T00:43:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T00:43:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/356601\/"},"modified":"2025-12-20T00:43:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-20T00:43:11","slug":"manchester-united-learn-afcon-boost-ahead-of-aston-villa-clash-with-late-change-to-squad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/356601\/","title":{"rendered":"Manchester United learn AFCON boost ahead of Aston Villa clash with late change to squad"},"content":{"rendered":"

Manchester United take on Aston Villa away from home in the Premier League this weekend but the hosts have been hit with a last minute squad change\"AfricanAfrican Cup of Nations trophy(Image: Photo by Ulrik Pedersen\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Manchester United have been handed a significant boost ahead of this weekend’s Premier League<\/a> clash with Aston Villa.<\/p>\n

While the majority of Ruben Amorim<\/a>‘s squad are preparing for the trip to the West Midlands, the United boss will be without a handful of key players for a number of their upcoming games. This is due to the Africa Cup of Nations tournament, which is set to get underway on Sunday and will run until the middle of next month, with the final scheduled to be staged on January 18.<\/p>\n

Three of the Red Devils’ big-name stars are set to compete in the competition in Morocco. Noussair Mazraoui <\/a>will represent the host nation, while Bryan Mbeumo<\/a> and Amad Diallo<\/a> will be playing for Cameroon and the Ivory Coast respectively.<\/p>\n

However, they are not the only club facing key squad absences over the next month, with Sunday’s opponents Villa hit with a last-minute squad change as a result of the tournament. It was announced on Friday that Villa winger Evann Guessand has been called up by the Ivory Coast following a recent injury to Sebastien Haller.<\/p>\n

Guessand was initially named by Emerse Fae as one of two reserve players, with each nation permitted to name two. In the event of any last-minute injuries before the tournament, those players can be added to the official squad, as has been the case here, with Haller pulling out due to an injury sustained earlier this month.<\/p>\n

\"EvannAston Villa will be without Evann Guessand for this weekend’s visit of Manchester United(Image: Photo by Daniela Porcelli\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The winger joined Villa from French side Nice in the summer for a fee in the region of \u00a330 million. He has so far scored two goals, both of which have come in the Europa League<\/a> against Go Ahead Eagles and Basel.<\/p>\n

Villa, though, are in fantastic Premier League form, as they are nine games into an emphatic winning run. Their last defeat came against Liverpool<\/a> at Anfield at the start of November, with recent results placing them third in the standings behind Arsenal<\/a> and Manchester City<\/a>.<\/p>\n

From a United perspective, the ambition this season is to qualify for next term’s Champions League<\/a>. Amorim’s side are currently sixth, but only two points adrift as things stand.<\/p>\n

Any boost, no matter how small, could be significant as they gear up for a crucial run of games heading into the New Year, starting with this weekend’s trip to Villa, followed by the visit of Newcastle United on Boxing<\/a> Day.<\/p>\n

United are unbeaten in their last six meetings with Villa, recording five wins and one draw in that time. Their last defeat against the Midlands club came in the form of a 3-1 loss in the Premier League back in November 2022.<\/p>\n

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