Romelu Lukaku has returned to light training as he races to be fit for the Manchester derby at the Etihad on Sunday.
However, United have a fresh injury concern after Alexis Sanchez sustained a thigh strain in the stunning Champions League win over Juventus in Turin.
Lukaku
picked up hamstring injury a week ago and missed the wins over Juve and
Bournemouth. United’s £75million striker had already paid the price for
scoring just four goals in 14 appearances this season after he was
dropped to the bench by Jose Mourinho for the win over Everton.
But Mourinho wants Lukaku’s power against
Manchester City in this weekend’s Etihad derby and will wait to see if
the big Belgian can prove his fitness over the next 24 hours. He will
give an update on the striker’s progress on Friday lunchtime.
Mourinho
admitted before the 2-1 win over Juve that he didn’t know if Lukaku
would recover in time, but it’s understood the 25-year-old was able to
take part in a light workout at Carrington while his teammates were on
Champions League duty.
The Chilean was seen applying ice to his thigh after coming off in the 79th minute and was in some discomfort afterwards.
At
least Anthony Martial continues to progress following a turbulent
summer that saw him fall out with Mourinho and refuse to sign a new
contract.