Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has returned from his Cameroon exile after being recalled ahead of their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Onana was dropped from the World Cup squad last year after enduring a heated argument with manager Rigobert Song over his style of play, with the stopper thought to have been told to adopt a more risk-free approach on the ball.
He was subsequently sent home and dramatically quit international football after the tournament in Qatar, but has this month performed a dramatic U-turn.
The 27-year-old was selected in a 24-man group for the qualifier against Burundi on September 12, with Cameroon requiring just a draw to advance to the tournament.
However, due to the scheduling of the AFCON, which runs from January 13 to February 11 next year, Onana may be ruled out for his club for up to a month.
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has been recalled by Cameroon after his exile
Onana was dropped from their World Cup squad last year and retired from international action
Should the stopper go to the AFCON, Erik ten Hag may be without Onana for an entire month
During the same period, Erik ten Hag’s side will play four matches.
Their run of fixtures begins with a crucial showdown against Tottenham at Old Trafford, before they face Wolves, West Ham and finally, Aston Villa.
An early exit for Cameroon would see Onana report back sooner than expected.
But in his absence, Ten Hag will be able to call upon the incoming Altay Bayindir, who is set to complete his move once Dean Henderson joins Crystal Palace. Tom Heaton, a prominent face during pre-season, will remain at the club as a back-up.
Onana has been awarded 34 caps by Cameroon to date and is likely to be installed as their No 1 once again despite his previous disagreement with boss Song.
Shortly after the row, it was claimed by Helena Condis Edo that Onana viewed the relationship as ‘irreversible’ regardless of attempts from Samuel Eto’o, the legendary former striker and Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) president, to mediate.
Sensationally, though, it has emerged that a former Fecafoot executive has pinned the blame on Eto’o for Onana’s exile and savaged the senior figure as ‘mean’.
Onana disagreed with Cameroon boss Rigobert Song (right) over his style of play on the ball
But Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroon Football Federation, is accused of axing Onana
Henry Njalla Quan accused Eto’o of wanting ‘to get rid’ of Onana ‘at all costs’.
‘Andre Onana’s call-up to the national team is conditional on the president of Fecafoot,’ Njalla said at a press conference.
‘I formally asked him about the future of our goalkeeper in the national team, and he replied that the boy’s career is over, and that the letter he sent to his club – Inter FC – was to get rid of the boy, so how can anyone be so mean?
‘He explained the real reason for the expulsion of Andre Onana from the World Cup held in Qatar, as the president of the Cameroonian football federation, Samuel Eto’o, wanted to get rid of the Inter goalkeeper at all costs.
‘The stars of the national team are being suffocated by someone who was a star himself when he was a footballer, and wants to remain a star as a manager. In every meeting he is there, in every training session he is there.
‘Even the coach feels suffocated by Eto’o’s omnipresence.’
Onana has made three appearances to date for United after arriving this summer.