Amad and Bryan Mbeumo were welcomed back into training with Manchester United on Wednesday as Michael Carrick and his coaching team took their first session at Carrington.
The pair have been away at the Africa Cup of Nations, reaching the quarter-finals of the competition in Morocco.
However, Ivory Coast and Cameroon’s exit facilitated their return to our base, to join the preparation for Saturday’s Manchester derby against City.
Noussair Mazraoui remains absent, as he is set to represent the hosts when they bid to reach the final this evening, against Nigeria.
Amad, of course, scored a memorable winner in last season’s victory at the Etihad Stadium, while Mbeumo was only denied in this term’s away fixture by a stop from Gianluigi Donnarumma that was voted the Premier League’s Save of the Month for September.
They have developed a promising understanding on the pitch and have contributed nine goals between them in 2025/26. Their last domestic outing was the thrilling 4-4 draw with Bournemouth, which Amad opened the scoring in, back on 15 December.
It should boost the attacking options open to Carrick for the 12:30 GMT kick-off, although Shea Lacey is ruled out through suspension, following his red card in the Emirates FA Cup exit to Brighton & Hove Albion.
The group of players training in chilly conditions included Lacey and the Fletcher twins, Jack and Tyler, along with Habeeb Ogunneye, who has been recalled from his loan spell at Newport County.
Carrick is set to hold a press conference on Friday, to be released at 14:30 GMT, to preview the derby and offer more team news in advance of the big game.