Ruben Amorim remains in the dark over whether Bryan Mbeumo, Amad and Noussair Mazraoui will be available for Manchester United's clash with Bournemouth, as the club awaits confirmation of when the players must depart for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). FIFA recently set December 15 as the release date for players participating in the tournament, but with United's fixture against Bournemouth scheduled for that same evening, uncertainty remains over the trio's availability for the Cherries match.
With just three days until kick-off, Amorim still doesn't know if he can select those players and has been compelled to prepare multiple tactical plans depending on their status. However, he believes the ambiguity could also work in United's favour, preventing Bournemouth from properly preparing for which side they'll face.
"We are still in conversations with national teams, the game is Monday, they are training and we are trying to prepare all scenarios," he said.
"It's frustrating, but at the same time, nobody knows who is going to play, so it's a good thing.
"We have players to cope with everything. With a long week you can work on several stuff to prepare the game."
Mazraoui will kick off his AFCON campaign on the tournament's opening day (December 21), with Morocco facing Comoros.
Amad and Mbeumo won't see action until Christmas Eve when Ivory Coast take on Mozambique and Cameroon square off against Gabon.
It was speculated that the players' release dates could vary depending on their tournament start dates, but Amorim stated that this wasn't certain.
He also said that he hoped to have clarity on the situation by Saturday at the latest.
"I don't know if it's going to be the same situation," he said. "Every national team has their ideas about when they want the players.
"I expect today or maybe tomorrow to have a decision, but we are waiting until the last moment to choose the best team."
United could go as high as fourth in the Premier League table if they manage to beat Bournemouth on Monday night, depending on other results.