International Reds: Onana saves the day

Back between the sticks for Cameroon was Andre Onana, who produced a Man-of-the-Match performance against Zimbabwe to keep a clean sheet in their 0-0 draw in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, making five crucial saves in the game.

It caps off a strong break with the Indomitable Lions for the United man, who also managed to shut out Namibia on Saturday as his side clinched a slender one-goal victory; someething he will be looking to carry through to domestic action this weekend when we travel to Southampton.

He was not the Reds' only African turnout, with forward Amad introduced just past the hour mark for Ivory Coast in their 2-0 triumph over Chad in the AFCON Group G clash, which they now top ahead of Zambia, Sierra Leone and their Tuesday evening opponents.

It has been a positive trip for Amad as he made his return to international action with the Elephants, having missed the AFCON tournament that his nation won earlier this year.

Speaking to local media following Friday's game against Zambia, a match which he started, Amad said: "For me already, it is a great pleasure to return to this selection. We have enough quality players."

The 22-year-old winger has also worn the no.15 shirt over this break, a significant honour after it was left vacant following the retirement of Ivory Coast legend Max Gradel earlier this year.

"It's a player who had longevity in the national team," Amad said. "It's nice to have his number and I also hope to have his longevity in the selection."

There was further good news from South America on Tuesday evening as United newcomer Manuel Ugarte completed a full game in Uruguay's midfield, alongside recently departed former Reds winger Facundo Pellistri. La Celeste unfortunately could not overcome Venezuela, the two sides holding each other at 0-0 on the night.

Due to his late signing, Ugarte missed pre-season and the beginning of the domestic 2024/25 campaign with the Reds, so seeing him up to speed and playing 90 minutes comes as a promising sign for his United debut over the coming days and weeks.

Argentinian duo Lisandro Martinez and Alejandro Garnacho were also on duty across the Atlantic for their nation's game against Colombia. The former played the first hour at left-back — a position he took up for Erik ten Hag's side earlier this year in the Community Shield — before being replaced by Marcos Acuna shortly after the interval. 

Garnacho remained an unused substitute for the match, as Colombia triumphed 2-1, thanks to goals from Yerson Mosquera and James Rodriguez.

Back on European soil, Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee were at the Johan Cruyff Arena to welcome Germany in their Nations League Group A3 clash. De Ligt started in the heart of defence alongside Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk but was withdrawn at the break for Brighton & Hove Albion's Jan Paul van Hecke.

The Oranje ultimately drew the game 2-2 and forward Zirkzee, after picking up a goal and assist in the win against Bosnia & Herzegovina on Saturday, was given the night off on the bench.

Two United players, Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo, were in the squad for England's Group B2 bout against Finland at Wembley Stadium, but both were afford a rest as unused substitutes by Lee Carsley in his second game as interim head coach of the Three Lions. A Harry Kane brace on his 100th England appearance proved enough to take all three points, in a game that saw former Academy product Angel Gomes earn his first senior international start.

Those Reds involved in international action will now make their way back to Manchester to prepare for a tight turnaround, as we look ahead to our return to Premier League action this Saturday; a 12:30 BST kick-off, facing Southampton at St Mary's Stadium.