Manchester United have been significantly boosted on the injury front ahead of a crucial fixture double-header against Porto and Aston Villa this week.
The struggling Red Devils face two tough away trips in the coming days that could prove pivotal to the Old Trafford future of under-fire manager Erik ten Hag, who has once again been placed under significant pressure after a disappointing start to the season continued with Sunday’s woeful 3-0 home defeat by Tottenham in the Premier League.
First up on Thursday evening is one of United’s most high-profile fixtures of the new-look Europa League league phase as they travel to take on Portuguese giants Porto at the Estadio do Dragao, with Ten Hag surely needing a positive result after a hugely underwhelming opening home draw with former club FC Twente last month.
The Dutchman has been handed some positive team news ahead of that game, with Kobbie Mainoo training as normal with the rest of the squad before the flight to Portugal on Wednesday.
The England midfielder had appeared a doubt for the game after limping off and straight down the tunnel just before half-time against Spurs, a quick-fire double midfield blow for United after captain Bruno Fernandes had been controversially sent off for a challenge on James Maddison - that red card and suspension subsequently overturned on appeal, making him available to face Villa and for the games against Brentford and West Ham later this month.
Ten Hag admitted after the Tottenham defeat that it was a “concern” to see Mainoo go off so early, but there were few other details and he appears to have avoided any lingering injury.
The 19-year-old’s replacement on Sunday, Mason Mount, only returned from a calf injury days earlier against Twente, but was also forced off himself late on after blood poured from a wound sustained during an accidental clash of heads with Spurs centre-back Radu Dragusin.
While Mount has not trained ahead of the clash with Porto and looks set to miss out, United confirmed that the former Chelsea midfielder had avoided a concussion - meaning he shouldn’t be sidelined for long.
One player joining Mainoo in contention for that latest Europa League assignment is Harry Maguire, who was absent from the matchday squad entirely against Tottenham with a knock sustained in training.
But he was back on the grass at Carrington on Wednesday and should be available to face Porto, with defensive colleague Victor Lindelof also back involved after returning to the bench at the weekend after a foot issue.
Ten Hag said last week that he hopes Luke Shaw will return from his latest injury after the upcoming international break having not played for United since February, while fellow left-back Tyrell Malacia is still steadily working his way back to fitness after missing all of last season.
Leny Yoro, United’s £58.9million summer signing from Lille, has also yet to play this term as he recovers from surgery on his own foot injury.
