Manchester United midfielder returns to action two months after horror injury
Man Utd have been handed an injury boost ahead of their EFL Trophy clash with Notts County.
Sekou Kone could make his return to action when Manchester United face Notts County in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night. The 19-year-old has been named on the United U21s bench for their clash at Meadow Lane, two months since he last featured in any competition.
Kone has not played since he fractured his eye socket in a National League Cup match against Tamworth in August that was subsequently abandoned. The Mali teenager went down following a clash of heads in his own box and was unable to continue any further. He initially got back onto his feet before he was advised to stay down by medical staff, as his injury was properly assessed.
After a lengthy stoppage in play, Kone was stretchered off the pitch with a mask held to his face before it was confirmed the match would have to be abandoned due to an ambulance shortage. The only available ambulance was used to take the teenager to the hospital, and rules state a match can not continue if there is not another ambulance at the ground as a precaution.
Sekou Kone returns to action
Sekou Kone was named on the Manchester United bench for their away match against Notts County in the EFL Trophy. His return to a matchday squad came just days after coach Travis Binnion stated he would most likely feature after the upcoming international break. United U21s face Solihull Moors in the National League Cup on 25 November and Anderlecht in the Premier League International Cup on 2 December.
However, there was an unexpected boost when Kone was named on the bench on Tuesday night. United went into the match bottom of Group D after defeats to both Barnsley and Lincoln City earlier in the season.
"He is back in full training," U21 boss Travis Binnion said after the defeat to Blackburn Rovers over the weekend. "We will get a body of training back into him, with contact. He has not been able to do contact, which limits the work we can do. After the international break, we think he will be ready to play. That will be good."
United completed the signing of the teenage midfielder from Malian side Guidars FC on the transfer deadline day of the summer window last year, for an initial fixed fee in the region of £1.2 million, with a number of performance-related add-ons also included. He was named on the first-team bench three times last season for Premier League away matches against Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Nottingham Forest.
United U21s vs Notts County: Murdock; Helafu, Armer, Kukonki, Leon; Devaney, Fitzgerald, T Fletcher; Lacey, Obi, Scanlon. Subs: Heath, Mills, Kone, Ibragimov, McAllister, Musa, Biancheri.
Sesko dropped, Dalot decision: Manchester United early predicted line up vs Tottenham Hotspur