Ryan Giggs highlights 'irreplaceable' Man Utd star despite past issues with club

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Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs believes Ruben Amorim might discover a positive aspect in losing three crucial players to the Africa Cup of Nations. The Portuguese manager will be deprived of Bryan Mbeumo, Noussair Mazraoui and Amad Diallo until January as the trio depart to pursue international glory.

United are amongst the Premier League's most heavily African-represented teams. They share third place with several other clubs for the highest number of African players and also sit fourth for the percentage of minutes played by African internationals.

No boss wants to be without players at any point during the campaign, but the problem can become particularly acute during the packed festive schedule, when teams like United face three matches within nine days.

Yet absences can also present chances, enabling other squad members to step forward and prove their worth. Giggs reckons that, despite the upheaval, Amorim might gain from the circumstances.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News via BetSelect , he said: "With Mazraoui, we've probably got cover as long as De Ligt and Maguire come back. Martinez has come back to bolster that defence, which is good timing.

"Sesko is now back, which helps. But it's definitely going to be a blow because Mbeumo has probably been the best player so far this season and looks like a real threat. Plays every game, has power, scores goals, and Amad can make things happen. So yeah, it's going to be tough.

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"But with Sesko coming back, Cunha could drop back into where Mbeumo was playing. Amad will be difficult to replace, and I don't know how we're going to do it, whether we are going to change shape.

"I'm not too sure. But those two lads [Mbeumo and Amad] are definitely going to be missed. And I think United fans are just hoping that their countries don't go through the group stage, and we don't miss them for too long.

"The plus side is that Mason Mount has come back into the team. And that's a massive plus. You never know how good a player is until they're playing regularly.

"And now we're starting to see the Mason Mount that we've seen at Chelsea for a number of years. He's a good, clever player. All the coaches like him. When you're a manager, you want players you can trust, and he looks like someone you can really trust."

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Benjamin Sesko has struggled to find his feet in the Premier League . The striker has netted just twice in the competition, with a knee problem that ruled him out for nearly a month disrupting his progress.

Now back to full fitness, he'll be determined to prove his worth.

Lisandro Martinez is also working his way back to peak condition following a cruciate ligament injury that sidelined him for nearly 300 days. The Argentine defender has faced numerous injury setbacks since arriving at Old Trafford and will be desperate to put those troubles behind him.

Mason Mount, similar to Martinez, has had his fair share of injury woes since joining United. Now back in form, the England international is showing promising signs as a regular starter under Amorim.