Ruben Amorim is busy at work with his Manchester United squad on the all-important pre-season tour to the USA, where he’s finally getting what he wanted all along.
Time on the training pitch and matches without consequence to fine-tune the details are the aims of the pre-season, while some youngsters will also want to break out.
Man Utd not being in Europe means the opportunities to do so will be fewer, but Ruben Amorim has already identified a few youngsters who have travelled with the team.
One has undergone a remarkable physical transformation considering how he arrived, and that primes him for a breakout on the tour.
Sekou Kone catches the eye in pre-season training
Man Utd fans would remember seeing Sekou Kone when he arrived, as there were worries about whether United could even afford to let him out on the pitch.
Kone was a wiry player with technical excellence, but that was something he rarely got the chance to show, as he was bounced around with minimal effort by the opposition.
It was clear that his mind was ready for senior football, but his body needed a lot of work.
In one season, despite being marred with injuries, Kone has done that work and then some. The signs were visible on the post-season tour, where Kone impressed with his athleticism and combativeness.
However, what he has done in the two months since is as visible as the day when United were training in Chicago ahead of their first pre-season game.
Kone looks much more filled out in his frame, and now that his body is getting used to carrying this weight, the injury issues will subside, too.
Most importantly, the next step for him will be to show that his on-ball skills haven’t taken a hit due to his focus on gym work and getting stronger physically.
If he has managed to combine his physical transformation with a step forward on the ball, then United have a midfielder ready to satisfy Ruben Amorim’s transfer demand.
Kone primed for a breakout at Man Utd
It is noteworthy that, in the absence of too many games this season, Amorim has given clarity to youngsters he thought wouldn’t get many games by not taking them on tour.
The fact that Kone made it to the USA, despite early reports of him going to Lausanne on loan for the season, suggests he’s already taken a big step forward.
It’s clear that every player on that tour squad has a role to play in Amorim’s mind this season when it comes to senior team selections.
Now that Kone has taken such a big step forward in his physical transformation, the biggest barrier to entry for him in senior football, he is primed for a breakout.
Kobbie Mainoo achieved something similar under Erik ten Hag, and the circumstances dictate that Amorim might not get the athletic midfielder he wants this summer.
That might turn out to be a blessing in disguise if Kone proves himself as the answer to those concerns. He’s taken a giant step already in one season, the results of which are visible.
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