Man Utd Team News: Attacker Could Return + Mourinho Confirms 30-Year-Old Will Start

Manchester United will look to book their place in the last four of the Europa League when they welcome Anderlecht to Old Trafford tomorrow night for the second leg of their quarter final clash.

Ahead of the game, Jose Mourinho has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this afternoon and he’s offered a team news and injury update.

The Reds boss confirmed that Wayne Rooney will return to the bench tomorrow as long as he comes through this afternoon’s training session without issue.

Rooney hasn’t featured in United’s last five games due to an ankle injury but he’s been building his fitness in training and the 31-year-old could make his return to the squad on Thursday night.

Phil Jones and Chris Smalling remain out as they continue to recover from toe and knee injuries that they suffered on international duty with England last month while Juan Mata isn’t expected to play again this season following groin surgery.

Mourinho told ManUtd.com:

“He’s working now, he’s improving and if in this training session [this afternoon] the answer is positive, I would select him to be on the bench tomorrow,”

“He’s experienced, his know-how of this knockout phase – I think he’s a player that can be useful tomorrow. If we need a goal, he can help us. If we need to keep a result, to keep the ball, to keep control of the game by having possession, he can help us too. So, hopefully his answer in the training session is positive.”

“No injuries from the game [against Chelsea] but also nobody recovered so no Mata, Jones, Smalling. They are out and still out. And Wayne is the only one that is possible, if it’s possible.”

Mourinho is set to make come changes to the side that beat Chelsea on Sunday with Zlatan Ibrahimovic expected to be restored up front after being rested at the weekend, although Marcus Rashford will hope to keep his place after impressing against the Blues.

Michael Carrick and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are also pushing for recalls while Mourinho has confirmed that Sergio Romero will come back in between the sticks with David De Gea dropping out.

Sergio Romero is #mufc goalkeeper for tomorrow but not necessarily all Europa League.

— Stuart Mathieson (@StuMathiesonMEN) April 19, 2017

United head in to the game as favourites after coming away with a 1-1 draw from Belgium with Mkhitaryan’s opener cancelled out by Leander Dendoncker’s late equaliser.