Man United take on Club Brugge in the Round of 32 of the Europa League this Thursday and before this match, the manager got back a few players from long injury spells.
Axel Tuanzebe and Timothy Fosu-Mensah were both seen training with the first-team earlier during the week and immediately it was suggested that the players could return to the matchday squad against Brugge at Old Trafford.
Now though, the Man United has made it clear that both Tuanzebe and Fosu-Mensah will not be part of their European squad and are still some away from making their comeback.
“[Axel and Tim] are getting close to a Reserves match or a behind-closed-doors match,“ said Solskjaer, as reported by the club’s official website.
“We need them to play in that kind of game before we use them in the first team. We had a couple of knocks in training but hopefully, they’ll be okay,“ the manager told
“We’ve got a strong and fit 25-man squad and it was a good session. We’re looking stronger.”
Apart from these two absentees, Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford and Lee Grant are also ruled out for this match but the club’s official injury report has hinted that both Scott McTominay and Mason Greenwood could be named in the first XI after having missed out in the first leg.
The report states: “Scott McTominay and Mason Greenwood, who both missed the first leg, could be involved, as could youngsters Tahith Chong, James Garner and Angel Gomes, after taking part in today’s training session.
“Odion Ighalo will also be hoping to make his first start for the Reds, after three cameo appearances off the bench so far.”
Man United go into the second leg with an aggregate scoreline of 1-1 but the club does have what it takes to overcome the Brugge test and hopefully progress into the next round.
