Solskjaer's squad update for Bournemouth game

The Norwegian spoke to the media on Friday morning ahead of the match, and revealed that Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez and Anthony Martial all took part in light training at the Aon Training Complex on Thursday after all of them missed the 3-1 Boxing Day win over Huddersfield.

 

Solskjaer also suggested Marcos Rojo and Scott McTominay might also be able to increase their involvement in training soon, but admitted that Chris Smalling is likely to be absent until the Tottenham Hotspur fixture at Wembley on 13 January, due to a foot problem.

 

"We've not had a lot of training since [the Huddersfield game]," explained United's new caretaker manager. "We had yesterday [Thursday] off so today is the first day back.

"Romelu [Lukaku], Anthony [Martial] and Alexis were [in] light [training] yesterday so hopefully they can join part of the training today and let's see after they've come through. Marcos [Rojo] and Scott [McTominay] look like they can take part very soon as well, so it's looking better.

"Smalling has got a sore foot, so I don't think we'll see him until the New Year anyway - maybe not even before Spurs [on 13 January] probably, around that time, but you never know."

 

Of the players mentioned, only Martial has featured thus far under Solskjaer, but the Frenchman was forced out of the Huddersfield match due to illness.

 

Despite a 5-1 scoreline and a tremendous performance in the first match of the Treble winner's stewardship at Cardiff, Solskjaer made several changes for his second game, underlining to the squad that everyone will get their chance to impress. 

With United's next match at Newcastle following just three days after the Bournemouth clash, the caretaker manager will be keen to use the depth of his squad wherever possible.

 

Bournemouth shared some early team news of their own on Thursday, when they confirmed they will be without their captain Simon Francis at Old Trafford, after the centre-back was stretchered off during the 5-0 defeat to Tottenham at Wembley on Boxing Day. Scans later revealed a rupture to the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. The defender joins midfielder Lewis Cook on the sidelines, who suffered a similar injury earlier in the month.

 

Dan Gosling and Adam Smith are also expected to miss out, after playing no part in recent games due to knee complaints.