Nemanja Matic completes first tour training session

The Serbian midfielder was given extended leave so he could take a holiday after his World Cup campaign with Serbia, but rejoined the squad at the weekend.

 

The 29-year-old stayed in Los Angeles to train yesterday while his team-mates played in Santa Clara, but Matic was in the thick of it once again during Monday's workout.

It was a lighter recovery session for most, with this session being the first since the team’s 0-0 draw with San Jose Earthquakes at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara on Sunday.

 

Alexis Sanchez made his return to match action during that game, but Jose Mourinho stressed after the game that United’s next fixture – against AC Milan in Los Angeles on Wednesday evening – would be too early to reintroduce Matic.

The former Chelsea player was almost ever-present in United’s Premier League campaign last season, and Mourinho even joked that he hoped Serbia would make an early exit from the World Cup, telling the media: “I want my players to win, but I also want my players to go on holiday!”

 

Serbia narrowly failed to qualify for the last 16, having been drawn in a highly competitive group with five-time champions of the world Brazil.

The boss confirmed on Sunday that David De Gea and new signing Fred will be the next names to follow in Matic’s footsteps and join Tour 2018, presented by Aon, as United’s World Cup stars continue to return ahead of the start of the 2018/19 season.

 

You can watch our next pre-season game against AC Milan on Wednesday night exclusively live on MUTV through Sky or Virgin Media in the UK and Ireland, and more widely in the MUTV app and online at MUTV.com. The match will kick off at 20:05 local time (04:05 BST on Thursday morning UK time).