Ten Hag makes SHOCK U-turn over England star and gives Evans contract hope

Robin Bairner

• 28 Jul 2023 07:34 BST
• 2 min read

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has invited three unexpected faces to keep training with the squad as the Red Devils continue their preparations for the new season.

Ten Hag has had to be flexible with his plans this summer because Man Utd have not been able to attract the players he might have wished on the transfer market due to the stalled takeover.

Andre Onana and Mason Mount have arrived from Inter Milan and Chelsea respectively, while a deal is in the pipeline for Rasmus Hojlund, but progress has undoubtedly been slower than the former Ajax head coach might have wished.

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As such, he is set to keep three faces around the first-team squad as preparations build for the beginning of the Premier League season in two weeks.

Foremost among the players retained in Ten Hag’s thoughts is goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who had been expected to join Nottingham Forest on a permanent basis after spending last season on loan at the City Ground.

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Zion Suzuki had been expected to act as Onana’s support this season, but with the Urawa Red Diamonds keeper still very much in Japan, Henderson has been asked to compete with the Cameroon star.

"We have a group of keepers and, as everyone else, you have to fight for your position," Ten Hag said. "I think that's normal when you're at United. And he is a good goalie, he has to fight and we have to see when he can return to team training."

Evans and Hugill retained

Ten Hag will also keep two players at the opposite ends of their career in the picture at Man Utd, The Mirror reports.

Jonny Evans, who signed a short-term deal with the club and featured in the pre-season win over Lyon in Edinburgh, will continue to train with the Red Devils, fuelling speculation he could earn a one-year deal following his release from Leicester City.

Teenage striker Joe Hugill will benefit from Man Utd’s inability to land a striker on the transfer market by working with the first team to keep numbers up. The 19-year-old scorer against Leeds in a pre-season win earlier this summer.