Manchester United get major injury boost for Arsenal fixture

SportFootballAndre OnanaMan United start their Premier League season against Arsenal at Old Trafford on August 17.Onana travelled to United States but did not playManchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana is targeting a return from his hamstring injury for the opening game of the season against Arsenal next Sunday.Onana is not expected to play against Fiorentina in United’s final pre-season friendly against Fiorentina at Old Trafford on Saturday but the 29-year-old remains confident of regaining fitness to play against Arsenal.Cameroon international Onana has been sidelined for the majority of United’s pre-season schedule since sustaining the injury in training before the tour of the United States.Onana has not played in any of United’s four friendlies against Leeds United, West Ham United, Bournemouth and Everton but stepped up his training programme in Chicago last week. He has resumed goalkeeping training back at Carrington.United sources confirmed Onana was training again during the tour but that he was involved in non-contact sessions to avoid the risk of aggravating his injury.Altay Bayindir has started in three of United’s friendlies but struggled to convince. Tom Heaton performed admirably in the 4-1 thrashing of Bournemouth and came on for the second half against Leeds in Stockholm.As the MEN revealed in January, United have explored the possibility of bolstering their goalkeeping department. A loan proposal for Aston Villa ‘keeper Emiliano Martinez did not materialise.Onana enjoys a good working relationship with United head coach Ruben Amorim, who privately indicated he wanted to keep the £47.2million goalie early in the summer.Benjamin Sesko arrived in Manchester on Thursday evening to complete his £73.7m transfer from RB Leipzig. Sesko was greeted at Manchester airport by United’s director of football negotiations, Matt Hargreaves.Sesko, 22, could be paraded by United before the Fiorentina game at 12.45pm.