Manchester United fans have received a boost as goalkeeper Andre Onana and forward Joshua Zirkzee have rejoined full training ahead of their highly anticipated Premier League opener against Arsenal. Both players had been sidelined during pre-season, raising concerns about their availability for the crucial match.
Zirkzee's 2024-25 season was prematurely cut short due to an injury sustained in April, while Onana has been nursing a hamstring issue since July. Their return to training provides manager Ruben Amorim with much-needed options as the Red Devils prepare to host the Gunners on Sunday.
Onana's future at Old Trafford had been the subject of speculation during the transfer window, following a challenging 2024-25 campaign where he committed three errors leading directly to goals in the Premier League. This put him among the league's highest offenders in that category. However, his shot-stopping ability remains a valuable asset, as he prevented over one expected goal based on shots on target statistics.
Despite links to other goalkeepers such as Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez and Paris Saint-Germain’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, Onana appears set to retain his place as United's first-choice goalkeeper for the time being.
Zirkzee's return is also a positive development for United. Before his injury in April, he had featured in 31 of 32 games under Amorim, scoring six goals. However, with the arrivals of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko, he may have to bide his time on the bench initially.
The return of Onana and Zirkzee bolsters Manchester United's squad depth as they look to start their Premier League campaign on a high note against a formidable Arsenal side.
