Man Utd Team News: Duo Ruled Out Of CSKA Clash But LvG Confirms Defender Boost

Manchester United will look to take a huge step towards qualification from Group B of the Champions League when they take on CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.

Ahead of the game, Louis van Gaal has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this afternoon and has given ManUtd.com a team news update.

The Dutchman was pleased to confirm that Phil Jones is back and available for selection after sitting out of Saturday’s draw at Crystal Palace because of fitness concerns.

Jones comes back in to the squad in place of youngster Axel Tuanzebe – who was named among the substitutes at Selhurst Park at the weekend.

Morgan Schneiderlin was given permission to miss training on Monday due to personal reasons so it remains to be seen whether he’ll be involved against CSKA tomorrow night.

van Gaal told ManUtd.com:

“Phil Jones has replaced him [Tuanzebe] and Phil Jones is returning in the selection, so my preference is for Phil Jones,”

“He [Morgan] had private reasons to be excused and I accepted his reasons,”

However, the clubs official website says that United have been hit by a double blow as Memphis Depay and Antonio Valencia have once again been ruled out of the game.

Depay has been in poor for of late and the Dutch attacker remains sidelined after missing the Palace game with a knock while Valencia is still nursing an ankle injury.

The pair join long-term injury victim Luke Shaw on the treatment table while Paddy McNair is closing in on a return to fitness after an abdominal injury.

United head in to tomorrow night’s action sitting second in Group B following a 1-1 draw in Russia two weeks ago so a win at Old Trafford would put them in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stages.