Kobbie Mainoo has returned to training with Manchester United for the first time in two months, just in time for the Europa League clash at Lyon.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Midfielder back after two months outSeen with fresh new trimReturn is a timely boost for Lyon tieFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Mainoo was spotted in United's open training session on Wednesday before flying out to France for the quarter-final first leg against Lyon. The midfielder was sporting a new, no-nonsense haircut as he trained in the glorious sunshine at Carrington with his team-mates for the first time since injuring his hamstring.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Mainoo's last match was the FA Cup tie with Leicester on February 7, suffering the injury days later in a terrible training week for the Red Devils which also led to Amad Diallo damaging ankle ligaments and being ruled out for several months. Mainoo is now expected to be available for Thursday's first leg at the Groupama Stadium although fellow midfielder Toby Collyer plus defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Ayden Heaven are doubts after being absent from the training session.
WHAT RUBEN AMORIM SAID
United head coach Ruben Amorim told a pre-match press conference: "Kobbie Mainoo is training with us, we want to be careful, again, with our players, but maybe he’s going to be in our squad."
DID YOU KNOW?
Mainoo was playing in an advanced role just before he got injured. He played as a No. 10 in the Europa League win at FCSB and to good effect as he scored and set up a goal for Diogo Dalot. But Amorim's plan to play him as the centre-forward against Crystal Palace days later badly backfired. His return further strengthens a United side who are slowly but steadily improving under Amorim ahead of their last chance to win a trophy and salvage one of their worst-ever campaigns in modern times.
