Manchester United could be without Andre Onana for up to four Premier League games after the uncertainty around the goalkeeper’s international standing was crystalised on Thursday.
Cameroon have called up Onana for the Africa Cup of Nations after months of doubt over whether he would be available for the tournament.
The 27-year-old quit international football after he was sent home from last year’s World Cup amid spats with FA president Samuel Eto’o and manager Rigobert Song.
Onana made a shock return to help Cameroon qualify for AFCON in September and will be part of the team travelling to Ivory Coast for their group stage fixtures, which start on January 15.
United are expected to request a delay to Onana’s release but it is unlikely that he will be allowed to face Tottenham at Old Trafford on January 14, just 24 hours before Cameroon face Guinea in their opener.
The former Ajax goalkeeper is expected to be available for the FA Cup tie with Wigan Athletic next week but that is likely to be seen as an opportunity for understudy Altay Bayindir.
Bayindir, a £4million summer signing from Fenerbahce, has yet to make his debut for United and will be given a chance to stake his claim after continuing doubts about Onana’s form.
Manager Erik ten Hag was handed positive news with Lisandro Martinez closing in on a return from a fractured metatarsal suffered at Bayern Munich in September.
