Team news: Athletic Club v United
Ruben Amorim has admitted that, although Amad and Matthijs de Ligt are not fit enough to start Thursday's game at Athletic Club, they could still be involved in Bilbao.
The pair took part in Wednesday's open session at Carrington and were part of the 26-man group that flew to Vitoria Airport later in the day.
Amorim has selected a larger squad than usual, as United will stay in Bilbao to train on Friday, but he is not taking any risks with the two returnees.
Amad hasn't featured for almost three months, since picking up an ankle injury after our victory over Leicester City in the Emirates FA Cup, while De Ligt has spent a month on the sidelines after getting injured during the 1-0 league defeat at Nottingham Forest.
Travelling squad for semi-final first leg
ArticleThe Reds are taking 26 players to Bilbao and will also train in the Basque Country on Friday morning.
“To start, no,” Amorim replied, when asked if the duo were ready for the first leg at San Mames.
“But they can be in the squad for the game.”
Sekou Kone and Chido Obi have travelled, but are ineligible, while Jaydan Kamason and Bendito Mantato are the two members of the group who have yet to make their debuts.
“The rest of the players we have a game tomorrow then we have to train here Friday, so we need to prepare not just this game, but also prepare the next game against Brentford.
“So we took a lot of especially young kids to prepare the next game.”
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United are without Diogo Dalot, who has a calf injury, while Toby Collyer has not travelled.
Collyer was seen training individually at Carrington, before the main session.
Lisandro Martinez and Joshua Zirkzee have been ruled out for the remainder of the season, while Ayden Heaven recently suffered a setback in his bid to return from an ankle injury.