Erik ten Hag is confident Manchester United will have enough goalkeeper cover for Andre Onana when he goes to the Africa Cup of Nations next month.

The deadline for squads to be submitted is January 3, and Cameroon are preparing to call up Onana for the tournament in Ivory Coast. Players are compelled to report for duty under FIFA rules.

Onana could miss up to six games for United if Cameroon go all the way to the final on February 11, and he is known to be concerned about losing his place to Altay Bayindir.

‘When he (Onana) goes there, we have a strong group of keepers with Bayindir and Tom Heaton so we are comfortable,’ said Ten Hag, who could also lose Moroccan Sofyan Amrabat, Ivory Coast’s Amad Diallo and Hannibal Mejbri, of Tunisia, to the tournament.

Andre Onana is waiting to hear if he has been called up by Cameroon to Africa Cup of Nations

Erik ten Hag (left) is not worried if he does go, putting his faith in No 2 Altay Bayindir (right)

‘Of course, we hope Andre is available as much as possible, but if not we have two good keepers who can replace him.’

Ten Hag said United and Onana are still in talks as they await Cameroon’s squad announcement, adding: ‘If they call him up, you know the regulations.’ 

The Dutchman has more pressing problems at the other end of the pitch as United head to West Ham this lunchtime without a goal in three games for the first time since April 2015.

Rasmus Hojlund has yet to score in the Premier League since his £72m move in the summer, and last season’s 30-goal top scorer Marcus Rashford has two this term.

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Onana (right) is known to have concerns should he lose his Man United spot to Bayindir

Ten Hag refused to blame the pair, saying: ‘I have a strong belief in Hojlund and in Rashford that they are capable of scoring a lot of goals.

‘Rashford, last year under me, he proved he can score many goals when he’s at his best. He’s training well.

‘It can always be better, but he’s such an experienced player. He knows he has to take the responsibility and I’m sure he will do that. He will score many goals.

‘I have a similar feeling about Hojlund because he has shown in the Champions League, at the highest level, that he’s scoring goals. His mentality is great, and he is a very good performer under stress.’

Christian Eriksen is set to return to the squad on Saturday, and Ten Hag insists United will be stronger when Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount, Harry Maguire and Tyrell Malacia are available again in the coming weeks.

However, central defender Victor Lindelof will be out for about a month following surgery.