Manchester United have been dealt a fresh blow with defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka potentially missing a month of the current season.

The right-back, 25, has not yet been handed his senior debut for England ahead of Euro 2024 next summer. That has prompted the Democratic Republic of the Congo to approach Wan-Bissaka in an effort to include him in their Africa Cup of Nations squad next year.

The Athletic reports Wan-Bissaka is seriously considering the opportunity. And while he is yet to make a decision, Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag will no doubt be hoping his first-team star passes up the offer.

That is because United could lose him for a month over the course of the tournament, which runs between January 13 and February 11 next year. Wan-Bissaka played for England at Under-20 and Under-21 level but also represented DR Congo as a youngster due to his Congolese roots.

His new opportunity comes at an uncertain time in his career, with the full-back’s future at Old Trafford up in the air once his contract expires at the end of the 2023/24 season. And while United hold the option of extending his deal by 12 months, the player has struggled with injuries this season.

He started each of United’s four Premier League games to start the season but suffered a hamstring injury, before being left out of the squad to face Luton in their most recent fixture. Still, he provides vital squad depth and competition to Diogo Dalot and would be a huge miss for the Old Trafford side.

It is just the latest Afcon-induced blow for Ten Hag after his goalkeeper Andre Onana made a shock decision to come out of international football retirement in August to represent Cameroon. Onana helped Cameroon qualify for Afcon but it remains to be seen whether he will make himself available to play in it come winter, with the United manager not having envisioned such a twist when he signed him in the summer for £43.9million.