WATCH: Amad nods Manchester United in front vs Bournemouth in parting gift before jetting off to AFCON
Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo are playing their last games before AFCON
Amad Diallo gave Manchester United the perfect gift before jetting off to the Africa Cup of Nations by scoring the opening goal against Bournemouth.
United are set to be without the wide player, as well as team-mate Bryan Mbeumo, for at least a month while he helps Ivory Coast defend their AFCON crown but made a key impact in his final game before his absence.
The Red Devils had already made a decent start against the Cherries, with Mason Mount, Casemiro and Matheus Cunha all going close before their impressive opening was rewarded with a deserved opener after 13 minutes.
Diogo Dalot found space on the left-hand side before driving at the defence, cutting inside and swinging in a dangerous cross for Cunha.
The Brazilian striker was unable to get a touch on the ball, but did enough while stretching for the header to put off Cherries keeper Djorgje Petrovic, who got a touch but could not get the ball out of danger.
Petrovic’s touch ended up allowing the ball to bounce up nicely for Amad, who had come forward from his right wing-back position, to calmly nod a header into an empty net.
The goal was checked and cleared by VAR, with officials confirming that Cunha did not get a touch, which could have led to Amad being in an offside position.
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Man United starting lineup vs Bournemouth
United centre-backs Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire are out through injury but striker Benjamin Sesko is on the bench after suffering from food poisoning.
Midfielder Amad Diallo and forward Bryan Mbeumo play their final club matches before heading to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Wideman Noussair Mazraoui has already left for the tournament and is replaced by Leny Yoro in the hosts’ one change.
Manchester United starting XI: Senne Lammens, Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven, Luke Shaw, Amad Diallo, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Mason Mount
Man United substitutes: Altay Bayindir, Lisandro Martinez, Joshua Zirkzee, Tyrell Malacia, Patrick Dorgu, Manuel Ugarte, Benjamin Sesko, Tyler Fredricson, Kobbie Mainoo
Bournemouth starting lineup vs Manchester United
Bournemouth make one change, Tyler Adams returning from a ban in place of Alex Scott.
Centre-back Marcos Senesi suffered cramp during the 0-0 home draw with Chelsea on December 6 but starts.
Serbian defender Veljko Milosavljevic has been ruled out for two months with a knee injury, while Scotland internationals Ryan Christie and Ben Gannon-Doak are sidelined.
“We have to be careful with them in their recoveries,” Iraola said of his absent players. “We need them, but we haven’t signed [players] just for this season.
“We’ve signed them for a lot of seasons, hopefully, so we have to take care of them and make proper recoveries with them.”
Midfielder Lewis Cook is serving the final game of a three-match suspension.
Bournemouth starting XI: Djordje Petrovic, Adam Smith, Bafode Diakite, Marcos Senesi, Adrien Truffert, Alex Jimenez, Marcus Tavernier, Justin Kluivert, Tyler Adams, Antoine Semenyo, Evanilson
Bournemouth substitutes: Will Dennis, Julian Araujo, Julio Soler, David Brooks, Alex Scott, Amine Adli, Junior Kroupi, James Hill, Enes Unal