Manchester United handed major injury boost as FIVE return with City derby and Lyon looming | OneFootball

Ruben Amorim’s selection crisis begins to ease with some huge fixtures coming up in April, starting at Nottingham Forest

Manchester United have seen five players resume training after injury in a huge boost ahead of their imminent return to Premier League action.

Ruben Amorim’s side had been besieged by a fitness crisis in the final weeks leading up to the recent international break, regularly seeing their list of absentees stretch into double digits for an important run of games that included their two-legged Europa League last-16 tie against Real Sociedad.

Three of that number were defenders, with Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro and Luke Shaw all pictured taking part in the session.

Maguire has not played since being forced off with a calf issue before extra time of the FA Cup fifth round defeat by Fulham on March 2, while Yoro has not featured since being replaced at half-time of the 1-1 league draw with Arsenal a week later due to a foot problem.

Shaw’s last United appearance was as a substitute in the 4-0 win over Everton on December 1, having been suffering with a muscle injury. The England left-back has made just three appearances for United since last February and no starts, having missed the final months of the 2023/24 campaign with a hamstring injury.

Shaw returned to play for England at Euro 2024 but then sustained a calf issue on his return to pre-season training at United and has since missed another four months following his latest setback.

Also back in training at Carrington on Friday were goalkeepers Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton, giving United experienced senior cover for first-choice Andre Onana after youngsters Dermot Mee, Elyh Harrison and Will Murdock all stepped into matchday squads of late.

Bayindir last played for United in the 2-0 Europa League win over FCSB in Romania in late January, while veteran third-choice stopper Heaton’s only appearance this season came in the EFL Trophy back in August.

Per the Manchester Evening News, Noussair Mazraoui, Victor Lindelof and Manuel Ugarte were not at Carrington on Friday having been afforded extra time off after playing for their respective countries. Jim Thwaites, Godwill Kukonki, Bendito Mantato and Reece Munro were among the youngsters that took part in training.

United are still missing several first-team players including Amad Diallo, whom it is hoped could yet return from damaged ankle ligaments before the end of the season despite initially being expected to miss the rest of the campaign.

Kobbie Mainoo and Jonny Evans should also return before the summer, while Ayden Heaven was stretchered off during United’s 3-0 win at struggling Leicester in their final game before the international break.

Amorim will have Patrick Dorgu back from a three-match domestic suspension against Forest, though Lisandro Martinez will not play again this term after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his knee last month.

After their upcoming visit to the City Ground, United face rivals City in a Manchester derby at Old Trafford before their Europa League quarter-final tie with Lyon is sandwiched between a trip to play Carabao Cup winners Newcastle at St James’ Park. They also play Wolves and Bournemouth in a busy April schedule.