Man Utd forward Alexis Sanchez 'four or five weeks behind' as new season begins, says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Alexis Sanchez faces a fight to force his way back into the picture at Manchester United after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed he is a month behind his team-mates in preparation for the new season.

It means the Chile international is almost certain to be left out of Sunday’s clash with Chelsea at Old Trafford, despite United failing to bring in a replacement for Romelu Lukaku on deadline day.

Lukaku completed a £73.7million move to Inter Milan on Thursday, leaving Solskjaer light in attack and having to hope that Mason Greenwood can make the step up at 17 years of age.

It should provide Sanchez with an opportunity to finally kick-start his United career after a miserable 19 months at the club.

But his new campaign has not got off to a good start after suffering an injury with Chile at the Copa America and playing just 65 minutes of pre-season in a behind closed doors match.

In Pictures | Man Utd's summer transfer business

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There is still a chance Sanchez could leave United if a club from abroad is prepared to meet his £450,000-a-week wages – but Solskjaer expects him stay.

“Alexis has come in and trained well,” Solskjaer said.

“He is, of course, four or five weeks behind the boys, and he has not played apart from the one behind closed doors here, so I think he’ll see this as an opportunity as well to make his mark.

“I do expect him to stay. There’s a striker there we think is going to be able to score some goals.”

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