Sekou Kone: Swiss loan spell goes from bad to worse | OneFootball

While first-team transfer dealings remained muted during the January window, Manchester United were kept busy with regard to the academy.

A few youngsters returned from loan spells hoping to catch Michael Carrick‘s eye, while others found new homes. One of them was Sekou Kone, who left to join INEOS-owned FC Lausanne Sport for the rest of the season.

However, the temporary stint has not started in the manner the midfield wonderkid would have hoped for.

He has managed only a 10-minute cameo while being forced to watch from the bench in two other league encounters.

Sekou Kone loan spell goes from bad to worse

Now, according to The Manchester Evening News, the Swiss side, while naming their UEFA Conference League squad, have chosen to omit the Malian.

This update will greatly disappoint the Red Devils, as they had only agreed to the loan so that the 20-year-old could earn minutes in the European club competition.

“FC Lausanne-Sport have not included Manchester United youngster Sekou Kone in their UEFA Conference League squad. Kone trained with Ineos-owned Lausanne throughout the winter window before officially signing on loan for the remainder of the season.

“The loan will offer the 20-year-old an opportunity to play in the Swiss Super League, with United saying of the deal: “Kone will also benefit from potential involvement in the UEFA Conference League.””

No Conference League involvement

“However, Kone has not been included in Lausanne’s squad for the Conference League. Lausanne were allowed to register a maximum of three new players after the winter window, but Kone was not included, meaning he will miss out when they face SK Sigma Olomouc in the play-off round.”

The Mali U23 international had spent the whole of January training with Lausanne, who pushed to sign him on loan after being impressed with what they saw from him.

“Having arrived at the Stade de la Tuilière in early January to train with Lausanne’s first team, Sekou Kone quickly impressed the Lausanne staff.

“His ball-winning abilities, stamina, and technical skill led the club to sign the defensive midfielder on loan until the end of the season. This move to Lausanne will allow him to continue his development in a professional and competitive league,” the Swiss side had announced.

How Sekou Kone reacts will show United what sort of character he is

They have certainly not followed through on their promise. Sekou Kone should learn from this episode and work even harder to prove his detractors wrong.

Dubbed “unplayable” during his time with the United U21s, the former Guidars FC ace was close to earning a senior breakthrough under Ruben Amorim last season, earning inclusions in three matchday squads, but that debut never came.

An eye injury forced him to miss almost four months of action. Hopefully, he can kick on from now so that he earns a place in United’s pre-season squad ahead of next season.

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