Manchester United look set to be without Alejandro Garnacho for the FA Cup final, with the teenager preparing to represent Argentina at the Under-20 World Cup.
The winger is currently working his way back from injury, but is expected to return in plenty of time for the Wembley showpiece. However, he is expected to play no part after opting for country over club.
United were able to hold onto Garnacho in the winter, with the youngster missing the South American under-20 Championships to play for his club. Now, though, they are poised to be without one of their future stars at a key point in the season.
According to reports in Argentina (via The Mail ), Garnacho has made himself available to join up with Javier Mascherano's squad. United looked to have dodged a bullet, with Argentina's early exit in the continental championship meant they failed to qualify for the World Cup, but they have stepped in as hosts after Indonesia were stripped of the honour.
Garnacho is one of a number of Premier League representatives called up by Mascherano. Man City midfielder Maximo Perrone could also miss the FA Cup final after the call-up, while Brighton's Facundo Buonanotte is also in the squad.
Argentina will take on Uzbekistan in their opening group game on May 20, followed by games against Guatemala and New Zealand. If they make it to the quarter-finals, that game would take place on the same weekend as the FA Cup final.
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Garnacho, who has scored four goals for United this season, hasn't featured since sustaining an injury in the draw with Southampton in March. That kept him out of action for the international break, where he had been hoping to make his senior bow for Argentina after being called up by Lionel Scaloni.
The 18-year-old thanked Saints defender Kyle Walker-Peters for his well-wishes after the injury. "More than football. Thank you very much for the message brother, this is part of football," he wrote on Instagram.
United booked their place in the FA Cup final with a penalty shoot-out victory over Brighton after a goalless draw at Wembley. Victor Lindelof scored the winning spot-kick, having stepped into the fold after injuries kept Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane out of action.
While Garnacho looks poised to play no part in United's next Wembley trip, Erik ten Hag's side still have a number of Premier League outings on the horizon before the winger joins up with his compatriots. Ten Hag's men face back-to-back games against European contenders Spurs and Aston Villa, and also face Brighton, West Ham and Wolves before May 20.
