Kobbie Mainoo returns to training

The midfielder last played on 15 December, as a substitute during the thrilling 4-4 draw with Bournemouth at Old Trafford.

He has since been sidelined with a calf problem he picked up before the trip to Aston Villa, and subsequently missed the Boxing Day victory over Newcastle United, as well as the 1-1 draws with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United.

The 20-year-old took part in the session ran by Darren Fletcher before our visit to Turf Moor, and the Scot said he would be assessed before a decision was made on his inclusion in East Lancashire.

“Kobbie Mainoo trained today, but we’ll see how he comes through tomorrow to see if he’s going to be in the squad,” he told MUTV’s Mark Sullivan.

Mainoo’s return would provide United with a further midfield boost, after Fletcher confirmed during his press conference that Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount should both be ready to feature again.

Fernandes suffered a hamstring injury at Villa and had to sit out of our festive fixtures, while Mount was withdrawn at half-time against Newcastle.

United will still be without Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire, while all three players at the Africa Cup of Nations have progressed to the competition’s quarter-finals with their respective nations.

Noussair Mazraoui and Bryan Mbeumo will meet on Friday evening, with one guaranteed to exit the tournament after Morocco have played Cameroon.

Amad, who has been one of the stars of this year’s edition, will take on Egypt with Ivory Coast on Saturday night.