Erik ten Hag claims Manchester United will have 'five or six new signings in January' as players return

Erik ten Hag has billed Manchester United's returning players next month as "new signings" for the run-in.

Ten Hag expects to have Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro, Mason Mount and Harry Maguire back in mid-January.

Malacia has required two rounds of surgery on his knee that have kept him sidelined since July, Martinez has been out with a metatarsal problem since September, Casemiro last played on November 1 due to a hamstring problem, Mason Mount sustained a calf injury last month and Harry Maguire has missed the last three games with a groin strain.

"I think we are very optimistic," Ten Hag said of the second half of the season. "When the players return and now the luck is a little bit on our side in the matter of injuries then we have five or six new signings in January."

Ten Hag insists United are prepared for the absence of Andre Onana for up to six games. Onana has been called up by Cameroon for the Africa Cup of Nations, having been recalled to the squad in September after a nine-month exile.

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United signed Onana from Inter Milan on the assumption his international career had ended after a falling out with coach Rigobert Song during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Onana has started in all 27 of United's matches this season and fellow summer goalkeeping signing Altay Bayindir is yet to make his debut for the club.

Bayindir could come into the team for the FA Cup third round tie against League One Wigan on January 8 and United resume their Premier League campaign against Tottenham at Old Trafford on January 14.

United prepare for matches with three goalkeepers, with the