Manchester United have seen 10 players return to training after participating in the World Cup as preparations step up for their return to action.
The Red Devils will host Burnley in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night in their first game since a dramatic win over Fulham in November. Boss Erik ten Hag is likely to name a strong team for the clash with the Championship leaders.
That is depsite many of his squad only just returning from Qatar, with an influx of 10 arriving back at the club's Carrington training ground on Tuesday. In total, 25 players took part in the final session before Ten Hag's side face Burnley at Old Trafford.
All three of the players United sent as part of the England squad were back in action, with Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford seen taking part. They were joined by Casemiro, Fred and Antony, who are likely still smarting from Brazil's disappointing exit in the quarter-finals.
Tyrell Malacia and Bruno Fernandes were also back at training, having been knocked out in the last eight with the Netherlands and Portugal respectively. But Fernandes was not joined by compatriot and Ten Hag favourite Diogo Dalot.
Dalot has supplanted Aaron Wan-Bissaka as United's first-choice right-back, but he was not part of the main training group on Tuesday. The 23-year-old has missed just one game so far this term, with Malacia shifting to right-back for the win over Fulham.
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Ten Hag will hope Dalot is able to feature when United return to Premier League action after Christmas, with Malacia having struggled in his place. Also out on the grass were Christian Eriksen and Facundo Pellistri, who were knocked out in the group stages.
They joined the likes of senior squad members Scott McTominay, Victor Lindelof, David de Gea and Anthony Martial, who have remained with United during the World Cup. Ten Hag also called up several youngsters, including Rhys Bennett and Zidane Iqbal.
The return of the 10 previously mentioned players at the World Cup means that United are waiting on the return of only two more stars. Those are Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane, who saw their countries feature in the final.
Martinez has returned to Argentina to celebrate La Albiceleste's win in the final. Though many of the first-choice players have only just returned, McTominay believes it will not take long for them to get back to their best for their club.
"Obviously, for us, it's a very different year in terms of the World Cup and things that have been going on. Some of us have had a break and some of us have been training and some of us were at the World Cup," he told a fans' press conference.
"When everyone comes back, they're pretty much ready to train again and the games come really quick. For a squad, it's good to have everyone back now. We've had a lot of players who have come back.
“I think every time we’ve played Burnley, over the years, it’s been difficult. For us, we will prepare as we normally do. We’ve got a lot of players coming back which we’re so happy about, and I’m sure the manager will be as well.”
