Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane and Scot Mctominay have all reported back to Manchester United training in Carrington ahead of an important Premier League clash with Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon.
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Arsenal host Manchester United in the Premier League.
Ronaldo, who scored a hat-trick in last weekend’s 3-2 win over Norwich City at Old Trafford, missed the game at Anfield due to the passing of his baby boy but has returned on training in preparation for the next game at the Emirates.
French defender, Raphael Varane last featured in the first match of the month against Leicester City, where United had to come from behind to earn a point thanks to Fred’s 66th minute goal canceling out Kelechi Iheanacho’s three minutes earlier.
That game was also McTominay’s last, as the Scottish midfielder was replaced by Marcus Rashford five minutes before the hour mark. Although, he was selected on the bench in the 4-0 loss at Anfield but was never called upon as Ralf Rangnick refers to have him fresh for Saturday.
Paul Pogba is unlikely to play again this season for Manchester United. The club has announced that the France international sustained a calf problem in the early stages of the defeat to Liverpool on Tuesday night, with Jesse Lingard replacing him as substitute.
Scans have since shown that the injury is set to keep the former Juventus midfielder out of action for around a month and, with United having just five games to go in the league this season, the chances are that he will not be involved in the run-in.
Fred, Edinson Cavani and Luke Shaw are all expected to sit out Saturday’s contest as they continue their recovery from respective injuries.
For the host, a run of three consecutive losses came to a end at the Stamford Bridge on Wednesday as goals from their Hale End graduates of Eddie Nketiah, who bags a brace on the night, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka giving them a 4-2 win in the London derby match.
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They head into the contest without Kieran Tierney, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season and Thomas Partey, who is also nursing a muscle injury.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is back but was not selected for the win at Chelsea and it will not come as a surprise should he be selected for the visit of Manchester United.
Manchester United won the reverse fixture at Old Trafford in December thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo brace helping them seal a 3-2 come from behind win.
The Gunners will also take courage from the fact that they are unbeaten in three home games against United, winning two and drawing one. This is a must win match for both sides as Tottenham Hotspur is also poised for a place in the Champions League next season.
The race for top four will go on till the final games of the season and starting at the Emirates tomorrow afternoon, Arsenal and Manchester United will want to take a step in the direction to achieving that, but one at the expense of the other.
Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
